Israeli Legislators Propose Law To Ban Talk About Jesus And Christianity

Summary:

• Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, who are both members of the Israeli Knesset, have put forward a controversial bill that would make it illegal to talk about Jesus or Christianity in Israel.
• People who talk about religion or spirituality with Israelis of any faith are breaking the law and could go to jail for up to two years.
• Under the proposed law, it would also be against the law to make or distribute materials in Israel that explain the Bible to Jews or Muslims.

Two members of the Israeli Knesset have put forward a bill that would make it illegal to talk about Christianity or try to spread it in Israel. The proposed law has sparked a heated debate about religious freedom and made people worry about how it might affect Israel’s relationships with other countries.

Background of the Bill

Representatives Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, who are both ultra-orthodox Jews and members of the United Torah Judaism party, put forward the controversial bill to ban talking about Jesus and Christianity in Israel.

The fact that the bill was introduced right before two important Christian holidays, Palm Sunday and Passover, has brought even more attention to it.

The proposed law would make it illegal for people of one religion to try to convince people of another religion to change their religious beliefs. This raises questions about religious freedom and the future of interfaith dialogue in the country.

Details of the Proposed Legislation

The bill under consideration has several key provisions that could significantly impact religious discussions and evangelism in Israel.

First, the law applies to people who talk about religion with Israelis of any faith, which makes it harder for people of different religions to talk to each other. Second, the bill sets out punishments for people who break the law, such as a one-year prison sentence, which could be doubled if a minor is involved in the conversation.

Lastly, the proposed law would make it illegal to make videos, print materials, or post online content in Israel that explains the Bible to Jews or Muslims. This would make it even harder to share religious ideas and beliefs.

Current Political Climate in Israel

Because of the way things are going politically in Israel right now, Evangelical and Messianic Jewish leaders are more worried that the bill that bans talking about Jesus and Christianity could become law.

There are a lot of Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox people in the current government coalition, and they are working hard to get laws passed that fit with and advance their theological worldview.

This has made it more likely that such a bill will be passed, which raises questions about the future of religious freedom and dialogue between religions in the country.

Potential International Consequences

The bill that would make it illegal to talk about Jesus and Christianity in Israel could have big effects all over the world.  One of the biggest worries is that the law could lead many countries and international groups to criticize Israel’s far-right government.

Additionally, there is the possibility of a “serious clash” with evangelical Christians in the US and around the world, who are among Israel’s most significant supporters.  According to the World Evangelical Alliance, there are about 600 million evangelical Christians around the world, including 60 million in the US alone.  This potential conflict could hurt Israel’s standing on the world stage in a big way.

Also, both Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress could be against the bill if they think it is an attempt to silence people who follow Jesus Christ in the Holy Land. This bipartisan concern could further strain US-Israel relations and impact the countries’ diplomatic ties.

Views on the Bill and Religious Freedom

The proposed bill has generated concerns about its implications for religious freedom and human rights. Former US ambassador for international religious freedom, Sam Brownback, has labeled the bill a “massive threat to free speech, human rights, and religious freedom.”

Brownback says that the law goes against the ideas of free and democratic societies, which usually support the free exchange of ideas, including religious ones.

These worries are part of a larger set of worries about how the bill might affect dialogue between different religions and religious tolerance in Israel as a whole.

MandyNews.com reporting

Two Israeli lawmakers have proposed a bill that would make it illegal to talk about or try to spread Christianity in Israel. This has caused a lot of controversy.

Representatives Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, who are both members of the United Torah Judaism party and are very religious Jews, put forward the bill right before Palm Sunday and Passover, two important Christian holidays.

The bill wants to make it illegal for people of one faith to talk to or try to convince people of other faiths to think about changing their religious beliefs.

This would apply to anyone engaging in spiritual conversations with Israelis of any religion. Violating the law could result in a one-year prison sentence, with a two-year term if the conversation involves a minor.

Also, the proposed law would make it illegal to make and distribute videos, books, and online content in Israel that explains the Bible to Jews or Muslims.

Given the way things are going in Israeli politics right now, evangelical and Messianic Jewish leaders are worried that the bill could become law. The government coalition consists of a large number of Orthodox

and ultra-Orthodox members who have been pushing for legislation that advances their theological worldview. This has heightened the sense of urgency among those worried about the potential consequences of the bill.

The proposed law could lead to a “serious clash” with evangelical Christians in the US and around the world, as well as widespread international criticism of Israel’s far-right government.

The World Evangelical Alliance says that there are around 600 million evangelical Christians in the world, with 60 million of them living in the US alone.  These Christians are some of Israel’s biggest backers.

The bill may also face sharp criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress. Some of these lawmakers might see the law as an attempt to shut up Christians in the Holy Land, which could make US-Israeli relations worse.

Former US ambassador for international religious freedom, Sam Brownback, has called the bill a “massive threat to free speech, human rights, and religious freedom.”  He also said, “Free and democratic countries just don’t make it illegal to talk about ideas freely, and that includes religious beliefs and convictions.”

As the debate about the proposed Israeli law that would ban talking about Jesus and Christianity goes on, it’s hard to say what effect it might have on religious freedom and Israel’s relationships with other countries.

Different people have said bad things about the law, which makes people wonder about the future of interfaith dialogue and the place of religious beliefs in public discourse.

If the bill were to become law, it could mark a significant shift in Israel’s approach to religious freedom and its relationship with the global Christian community.

For now, people in Israel and around the world will be paying close attention to what happens with this controversial bill and what it might mean for religious freedom and international relations.

References

1. Jordan News. (2023). Two Knesset members propose law banning spread of Christianity in Israel. Retrieved from https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-20/Middle-East/Two-Knesset-members-propose-law-banning-spread-of-Christianity-in-Israel-27672
2. All Israel News. (2023). Exclusive: Two Knesset members propose legislation to outlaw sharing the gospel in Israel and send violators to prison. Retrieved from https://allisrael.com/exclusive-two-knesset-members-propose-legislation-to-outlaw-sharing-the-gospel-in-israel-and-send-violators-to-prison-could-it-become-law
3. GOD TV. (2023). Two Knesset members propose legislation to outlaw sharing the gospel in Israel and send violators to prison. Retrieved from https://godtv.com/two-knesset-members-propose-legislation-to-outlaw-sharing-the-gospel-in-israel-and-send-violators-to-prison-could-it-become-law/
4. Religion Nigeria. (2023). Reactions as Israeli lawmakers propose bill to jail Christians who preach Jesus. Retrieved from https://religionigeria.com/reactions-as-israeli-lawmakers-propose-bill-to-jail-christians-who-preach-jesus/