SUMMARY OF PRE-PROPOSED BILL

Unfortunately, we need to inform you of a proposed new legislative
initiative.  Below is a synopsis of the pre-proposed bill being circulated
for support by various members of Knesset.
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Anyone convicted of soliciting or persuading another person, even
indirectly, to change his religion would receive a 5-year prison sentence.
This includes anyone who gives or promises another person to benefit (in any
form) to persuade him to convert, and also includes a person who agrees to
receive such benefit, even if it is through another person.  This 5-year
sentence would be doubled to a 10-year sentence if: a) the one who was
persuaded is a minor or needy person, or b) the one who was persuaded did
change his religion, or c) the one doing the soliciting used deceptive or
misleading means.

It is immaterial for the purpose of the proposed criminal prison sentence
if, to the religion or religious testimony of the person persuaded, there is
no validity to such conversion, or if the violation occurred outside of the
country, provided that the person whose religion is to be changed resides in
Israel.

A 3-year sentence would be conferred upon anyone who solicits through
advertisement.  A person would receive a 1-year prison sentence simply for
holding such an advertisement, without lawful justification.

A 1-year prison sentence would be imposed upon anyone who receives or brings
a minor or a needy person to a location in which prayer or other religious
activities occur  (which are different from the religion of such person) or
upon one who holds such activities.

A minor or needy person will not be allowed into an educational institution,
youth hostel or club in Israel that is under the auspices of “another
religion”.  “Another religion” is defined as a religion that is not the
religion of the religious community to which the individual belongs
according to Israeli Law.
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KNESSET INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

On November 10 a meeting was held at the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee
to discuss new anti-missionary legislation. Precipitating this gathering
were reports of widespread baptisms being performed upon Jewish people.  In
particular, the activities of Grace and Truth Congregation, a
long-established congregation founded and led by Baruch Maoz, former
chairman of the MAC, were focused upon.   Both Mr. Maoz and MAC members
(Charles Kopp and Daniel Yahav) were among 30 in attendance, that included
representatives of two major anti-missionary societies (Yad L’Achim and Lev
L’Achim), the media and Knesset members.

Although the gathering lasted for approximately two hours, our
representatives were allowed only 2 to 3 minutes each to speak and were
constantly interrupted.  Charles Kopp was not even allowed to speak, despite
his expressed desire to do so.  According to Maoz, “Most of the speakers
were accorded 7 to 10 uninterrupted minutes and more to describe the
purported, but unsupported, allegations of the activities of ‘the
missionaries’ and the repeated police failure to deal with them.   It
apparently never occurred to those participating in the discussion that
repeated failure to find evidence could actually mean that bribes were never
offered.  Nor did it occur to them that the police were merely upholding the
laws of this Land, which still secure freedom of speech, worship and
dissemination of ideas.  When the police representatives said as much to the
Orthodox MK’s, they were taken aback and expressed their disappointment.”

Leading the drive for introduction of legislation was MK Rabbi Porush
(National Religious Party).  The Chairman of the Internal Affairs Committee
is David Azoular (Shas Political Party), who stated that the Committee had
gathered to study, discuss and find ways to deal with the “missionary menace
threatening our people”.  Although some political parties signed
governmental coalition agreements precluding private member legislative
bills, MK Porush indicated there would be no problem passing a Preliminary
Reading (first of four votes) introducing a proposed law and obtaining the
necessary votes, even without support from the Barak Government.  Individual
member votes would be solicited beyond the religious parties.

A film was shown by one of the anti-missionary societies dramatizing the
perceived danger of baptism.  According to Baruch Maoz, the purpose of the
meeting “was to discuss two subjects:  1) the efforts on the part of
missionaries to baptize 400 Jews and 2) police obstruction of efforts to
restrict missionary activity in Israel.  (The actual number of baptisms at
issue was 12.)”

Cameras were conveniently present for use by the media.  Television
reporters inquired of MAC representatives of their availability for public
media debate.

Police Inspector Yosef Cohen, who had been asked to infiltrate Messianic
groups,  was asked why there was not more vigilance against the baptism
menace.  He related that twenty years ago the United Christian Council in
Israel secured an agreement that no investigation of Messianic activity
could take place without the prior approval of the Attorney General.  He
also stated that, in recent years, there have been sixty complaints against
the Orthodox for aggressive religious persuasion, and only thirty against
Messianic groups.  No evidence was found of attempted bribery by Messianic
believers, except a single occasion of the parents of a child who gave
hearsay of 30,000 NIS allegedly being offered to their child to convert.

One Knesset member (of a non-religious party), upon observing the obvious
“gang-up” against the Messianic Jews, left the meeting.  Strident press
quotations were cited by the anti-missionary societies, but a reference to
the name of the newspaper was only given when it was from the secular, non-O
rthodox press.

Daniel Yahav (a native-born Israeli and military officer) informed the
gathering that his parents were Holocaust survivors and that the fire
bombings of the houses of members of his congregation represented the
results of the kind of hatred produced by misinformation, unsubstantiated
reports and prejudice.  Even the introduction of legislation assumes a
public danger.

Among those present at the meeting was MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who
co-sponsored prior anti-Messianic legislation described in our previous
reports.  He acknowledged before the Internal Affairs Committee that the
Israeli government had been flooded with a worldwide response of letters,
faxes and inquiries from parliamentarians, embassies and foreign ministries.
In this regard, it is gratifying to learn that the efforts of you, our
readers, have indeed been effective.

It is our sincere hope that providential events intervene and that the
devices and intentions against our communities not materialize.  If it does
occur, it is good to know that an army exists willing to act to preserve
religious freedom in Israel and the democratic nature of our society.


* Provided by the MAC (Messianic Action Committe)