Leading evangelical Christians are publicly urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scuttle legislation introduced by ultra-Orthodox members of his coalition that would punish Christian attempts to solicit conversion with imprisonment.
The legislation – introduced by United Torah Judaism MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher – would apply to anyone who would attempt to persuade someone from changing their religious beliefs. The legislation, however, specifically notes that “the attempts of missionary groups, mainly Christians, to solicit conversion of religion have increased.”
The UTJ bill further outlaws sharing New Testament theology via online videos, online articles, social media, written literature and other forms of media. It further stipulates one year imprisonment for explaining faith in Jesus to an adult and two years imprisonment if discussing it with a minor.
Netanyahu and his allies – namely former Israel Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer – have publicly and privately stressed the importance of evangelical support as U.S. Jews have grown increasingly critical of Israel’s rightward shift. This dynamic has largely fueled Israel becoming an increasingly partisan issue where Republicans have adopted increasingly pro-Israel sentiments – both within international geopolitics and local domestic politics.
The legislation, first reported by evangelical website All Israel News, has already provoked significant outcry from leading evangelical Christians — many of whom have been stalwart supporters of Netanyahu over the past several decades.
“The bill could also draw sharp criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, in the executive branch, among U.S. governors and others who love Israel and have always stood with the Jewish state, but would fiercely oppose efforts to silence followers of Jesus in the Holy Land,” All Israel News’ Joel Rosenberg warned.
Former U.S. Ambassador of International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback warned that “free and democratic countries simply do not outlaw the free exchange of ideas and that includes religious beliefs and convictions,” in a comment to All Israel News. “Article 18 of the Universal Charter of Human Rights – which Israel has signed onto – guarantees freedom of religion, including the right to decide your own faith beliefs,” the former Kansas senator and governor added.
Former President of the Southern Baptist Convention Dr. Jack Graham – the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. – told Rosenberg that “Given Prime Minister Netanyahu’s long-standing friendship and alliance with Christians and solid commitment to religious freedom and free speech, I pray that he will make it clear soon that this disturbing bill will never become law on his watch.”
President of Concerned Women for America Penny Nance, the largest conservative Christian women’s organization in the U.S., also told Rosenberg that “As an Evangelical leader who deeply loves, publicly supports and strongly advocates for the U.S-Israel relationship, I am appalled at the idea of Christians being prosecuted for sharing their faith.”
“Christians in the United States are counting on Prime Minister Netanyahu and Knesset members to reject this bill, which is a violation of the human rights of our Brothers and Sisters in Israel,” Nance continued, adding that “this kind of oppressive policy would be more indicative of hardline Muslim regimes than the democratic Jewish state.”