LCJE Israel Year End Report
By Arthur Goldberg, LCJE Coordinator for Israel
 
The repercussions and reverberations of the events of the year 2001 are still being felt throughout the world. Hardly a day goes by without some kind of reminders of the world pre_September 11 and post_September 11. The changes brought about by the terrorists' attacks on the World Trade Center towers affected ordinary people’s daily lives in every country around the globe. The continuing "fall_out" is still spreading and rippling in ever widening circles and damaging economic stability. This can be seen in Israel where thousands of businesses have been shut down, unemployment is at a record high, and the value of the Shekel is falling daily against all other currencies. 
	During 2001, LCJE Israel continued to stimulate interest in international networking and communication. These efforts will continue in 2002. We are finding that many are preoccupied with simply existing from day to day and trying to deal with adapting to the immense changes. However, in the last few months our prayer attention has been focused on an attempt to pass a new anti_missionary law.
	The following quotation is from a report sent out by the MAC (Messianic Action Committee):
	"On Wednesday, December 26th, the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee will vote on whether to send for a first reading the anti_religious freedom bill sponsored by Ultra_Orthodox Knesset member (and chairman of the Interior Committee), Moshe Gafni. The bill, which was referred to the CL&J Committee after passing a preliminary reading in the Knesset a year ago, would outlaw the use of the mails, fax, email, or 'any other means' to disseminate an 'evangelistic' document without 'prior consent' of the receiver. In short, this bill intends to outlaw any religious communication which comes at the initiative of the believer in YESHUA as Messiah, effectively putting an end to freedom of religious expression outside the confines of one's own specific community. If enacted, the bill in question would constitute an anti_democratic violation of the basic human rights of Israeli citizens to freedom of religion and freedom of expression, as well as the right to receive information, which is fundamental to the preservation and viability of any democratic society. The 'Explanatory Notes' included with the bill are a misleading, inflammatory, even slanderous attempt to sway the unwary legislator to enact a bill without considering its true implications for the State of Israel, as a democratic Jewish state, as well as for its citizens. In summary, the proposed bill constitutes a real and present threat to the democratic nature of the State of Israel. It blatantly discriminates against a specific group of citizens based solely upon their religious beliefs and practices; beliefs and practices that are – at present – recognized by the State as legal and legitimate. It seeks to undermine fundamental democratic human rights that constitute the bedrock of free societies everywhere: freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the right to receive information."
	Following is another quotation from Noam Hendren on the day of the vote:
 	..."the Lord answered our prayers.
	The Knesset Constitution Law and Justice committee voted 7 to 5 to recommend that the Knesset remove the Gafni bill from further consideration. The Lord gave grace to us who appeared before the committee and also used the Committee's chairman, Ofir Paz_Pines, the representative of the Civil Rights Association and the Government's and the Committee's legal representatives to present a clear case to reject this anti_democratic bill. Within a month the bill will be brought back to the Knesset for that vote, so it is important that we continue to pray. In the meantime, Gafni and friends will try to get the government of Ariel Sharon to change their opposition to the bill and to support it in the upcoming vote."
	The ultra_orthodox Shas party has boasted that they have a whole “Pandora's Box” full of anti_missionary bills ready for presenting to the Knesset to pass into laws. Israeli Messianic believers are already considered "criminals" by some, so it is entirely probable that at some point in the near future anti_missionary legislation will be passed.
	LCJE will have a very important part to play when this legislation comes into being. We must not be so naive as to think these laws cannot be passed in the State of Israel, the only center of democracy in the Middle East. The "handwriting is on the wall." ..."therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard ..." (II Pet. 3:17). "But these things I have spoken to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them" (Jn. 16:4). "...They will deliver you up to the courts ... and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake ... And you will be hated by all on account of My name ..." (Matt. 10:17,18,22).
	NOW is the time to begin to pray fervently and to begin to develop an infrastructure and a plan for dealing with this threat to use the law in Israel to silence the message of salvation through YESHUA our Lord. Every LCJE member and organization throughout the world must rise to this new challenge, and using our Network that is already developed and in place, work together to "overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Rom. 8:37) In the Israeli Army we have a saying, "This is the situation, and this is what we have (weapons and ammunition and manpower), and with this we will go up and be victorious and conquer." Our Lord YESHUA Himself has given us this promise in Jn. 16:33, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world." 
	LCJE Israel would like to invite members around the world to pray for wisdom, and then to share ideas with the Messianic body here. We need a vision of how the Lord wants to unfold His most efficient and effective plan for the salvation of our people Israel. This will be the supreme test of putting all we have worked for over all these years in LCJE into practical use. We are co_laborers and partners in Messiah YESHUA. Let us go to work together in 2002 while it is still day, for the night is coming.