Israel Today
Dec 30 2009
Israeli ministries spar over support of Evangelical Christians
Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Interior Ministry are engaged in a
heated debate over whether or not to recognize Evangelical Christians
as a sovereign, independent church and offer them the benefits that go
along with that status, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.
The Foreign Ministry wants to upgrade the status of Evangelical
Christians in Israel, encouraging even more interaction with the
Christian group that has most supported and aided the Jewish state
since its rebirth.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon noted that Evangelical Christians
donate untold sums of money to Israel and, especially in the US and
Europe, initiative formidable public relations campaigns in support of
the Jewish state. Ayalon suggested that the least Israel could do in
return is grant Evangelicals the same status as Catholics, Greeks,
Armenians and other orthodox churches.
An Interior Ministry representative quoted by Army Radio rejected the
idea, arguing that if Evangelicals were granted such status in Israel,
it would open the flood gates and similar requests from other
religious groups would come pouring in.
Our readers are aware of the trouble Evangelical Christians living in
Israel have had with the Interior Ministry in recent years, and
revelations that those troubles stem directly from the ministry’s
relationship with Yad L’Achim.
Yad L’Achim and other anti-missionary groups view Evangelical
Christians as a threat and want them out of Israel, and that likely
has far more to do with the Interior Ministry’s opposition to
upgrading the status of Evangelicals than a fear of additional
requests from other religious groups.
Both ministries agreed to form a joint committee to find a solution to
the impasse.
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