Date:                March 21, 2007

In a further sign of increasing opposition to evangelistic activity in Israel, the theocratic party known as the Shas faction, which is headed by MK Yakov Margi, proposed a bill on March 13 stating that Israel's laws against proselytism should be strengthened. Backed by six other faction members and in concordance with Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's instructions, Margi proposed the sentence for preaching conversion should be one year imprisonment, according to a March 14 story written by Neta Sela in www.ynetnews.com.

Currently, under Israeli law anyone offering money or material products in exchange for conversion faces five years in prison or a monetary fine. The person on the accepting end of the offer also faces punishment. Anyone acting in favor of, or conducting a conversion ceremony on, a minor faces six month in jail. The law, however, does not address attempts to convert adults over the age of 18, making it completely legitimate.

Shas members claim that the current law does not deter proselytizers. The new proposal claims that the weaker populations, such as Ethiopians and new immigrants, were more susceptible to missionary persuasion. Margi's proposal would completely forbid preaching and proselytism altogether.

Similar bills have been proposed in the past by ultra orthodox groups and have been defeated. Pray that this proposal will face a similar fate.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Israel, go to www.persecution.net/country/israel.htm.