Deported Messianic Jew to Appeal Supreme Court

[WorthyNewsBot]

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

JERUSALEM (Worthy News)– A British messianic Jew deported from Israel last year for participating in an evangelistic outreach will appeal his case to the nation's supreme court, according to Morning Star News.

Banned from Israel for 10 years, Barry Barnett was forced to leave under a deportation order issued by the Ministry of the Interior that is now under appeal. But Barnett believes his case is really about the right to religious expression.

"If we win in the Supreme Court, not only does it get me back to Israel instead of waiting 10 years after having been deported, it means that every single Christian has the right or every religious person has the right to express their faith freely without intimidation."

Barnett was arrested Nov. 20 near the city of Be'er Shiva by immigration enforcement officers at a Jews for Jesus "Behold your God, Israel" rally, after which he was interrogated for four full days at an immigration detention center. Barnett then had a court hearing with an immigration judge during which Interior officials successfully claimed he had violated the terms of his B-2 tourist visa by doing "missionary work."

Lawyers for Jews for Jesus in Israel appealed the case in March, but lost in the lower court because the appeal's judge thought Barnett was "acting in a way that wasn't normal tourism." But in Israel, missionary work is considered "normal" if no material incentive is given and no minors are evangelized. Further, Israel is a signatory to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, which affirms the validity of tourism for the purpose of exchanging religious beliefs.

A hearing with the Supreme Court is set for Feb. 9, but Barnett can't attend because of his travel ban.

Dan Sered, Israeli director of Jews for Jesus, said he is hopeful that they will win the case, but he sees the entire incident as something of a contradiction.

"I was always raised to see Israel as a democracy where justice is blind. This is the difference between Israel and Iran. This is exactly why we are the only democracy [in the Middle East]."

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[Arka]

It's so sad to see Israel going down the same hardline secular path that the U.S. is going down.

[Qnts2]

It's so sad to see Israel going down the same hardline secular path that the U.S. is going down.

 

This is not a secular path for Israel, or I would not call it secular.

 

This issue is about Jewish people vs. Jewish people who believe on Jesus. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish people in Israel are the most opposed to Messianic Jews. Messianic Jews are viewed by the ultra-Orthodox as Jewish people who worship other gods, and based on their interpretation of scripture, believing on Jesus is idolatry. The penalty in the Mosaic law is to cut off Jews who worship other gods and spread their belief.  

 

Less observant Jewish people in general, are also opposed to Messianic Jews as belief on Jesus is considered another religion and traitorous. So, less observant Jews would not claim the Mosaic law as their guidelines, some might not oppose the ultra-orthodox viewpoint simply because it might keep some Messianic Jews out of Israel. While others might argue that the Messianic Jews have a right to speak out about their beliefs. 

 

In the end, the attempt to ban Messianic Jews is not secular, in my view.  There is a battle in Israel concerning what to do with Messianic Jews who wish to immigrate to Israel. 

[kwikphilly]

Blessings Blessings 

   Call it what you will,,,,but it is simply the enemy at work.Spreading the Gospel to the Jews and bringing the Nation of Israel back to God is the last thing the enemy wants & he will do all he can to keep Gods chosen people from reconciliation .........so evil,we really have to pray for Israel               for all Jews ,for all people who do not have Jesus                                 With love-in Christ,Kwik