Citizens around the country file dozens of complaints about
missionary activity aimed primarily at vulnerable sectors of
the population, Religious Affairs Minister Gidon Ezra told a
Knesset plenum in response to an inquiry by MK David Azoulai
(Shas) about the wave of missionary activity washing through
Haifa and the surrounding area.
"In the past the possibility of taking steps to provide
information to the public were considered," said Ezra, "but
following the budget cut on informational campaigns at the
Religious Affairs Ministry it became infeasible to conduct
this type of activity."
MKs David Azoulai, Uri Arieli and Nissim Dahan raised the
problem that police do not enforce the law in this matter and
missionary figures take advantage of low-income families and
immigrants in order to encourage them to convert, Rachmono
litzlan.
Ezra replied that missionary activity does indeed constitute
a criminal violation and that the issue of enforcement falls
within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Security.
"We must fight against this development," said Ezra, calling
on religious Knesset members to pass on any information they
have on the matter to the Ministry of Internal Security.
