Posted on 06/28/2006 2:06:59 PM PDT by Michael81Dus
A group of 50 pro-Israel Christian tourists came under attack Wednesday from some 100 residents of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea She'arim in Jerusalem. Three of the tourists and a police officer were wounded in the attack. They received treatment at the scene. The tourists arrived at Mea She'arim wearing orange T-shirts with the words "Love your neighbor as yourself" printed across them. As they neared one of the squares, the local residents apparently identified them as Christians and began to hit them. Police forces in the area stepped in to stop the violence, but did not make any arrests. Police say they are waiting for the tourists to file official complaints.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
I was thinking about selling a T-shirt in Russian that said, "F*** Russia. I'm an American and I can personally kick any of your a&&es. Come on. Try me right now."
I'd advertise that it said: "America loves Russia. We're glad the Cold War is over. Come over and shake my hand."
It would sell like hotcakes to tourists going to Russia.
Haredim assault Christian tourists
A group of Christian supporters of Israel wearing t-shirts reading "Love thy neighbor as thyself" was assaulted Wednesday in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood by a crowd of haredim, police said.
Three of the tourists were lightly injured in the late-morning attack in the well-known haredi neighborhood as was a police officer, Jerusalem police spokeswoman Sigal Toledo said.
They were treated on the scene by Magen David Adom paramedics.
Police arrested two haredi men suspected of attacking the members of the group.
The group of 50 tourists, who were apparently identified as Christians by local residents, came under attack while walking through the neighborhood by about 100 haredim who congregated in the area and started to hit them.
Police forces rushed to the scene to break up the attack.
Police said that they are waiting for the tourists to file a complaint with police so that they can press charges against the suspects.
The rare assault comes at a time of increasingly close relations between Israel and Christian supporters of Israel around the world.
At the same time, some members of the haredi sector view such ties as an anathema due to ongoing concerns over proselytizing.
After police dispersed the crowd of attackers, haredi residents set a garbage bin on fire in the area, forcing police to briefly close off the street to traffic in the area.
Now, what do we have to do to get the authorities to enforce the anti-missionary laws on the books?
This is Israel, not America and it is ILLEGAL to missionize in Israel.
I did not know that! (/Ed McMahon voice)
bttt
Well that's a lot better reporting than the original posts article. I also found this:
Title: I was there and saw what happened
Name: Michael
City: Jerusalem State: Israel
It happens that I was there at the time, so I saw for myself most of what actually happened-- 1. These people were missionizing at the main intersection of Mea Shaarim, and were asked politely to leave, (in the same manner that you or I might ask someone in a technology park trying to get people to put on tefilin, to please leave). 2. The shirts I saw said- "Our God is your God", which is very different than "Love thy neighbor". 3. The crowd emerged almost a 1/2 hour after the first attempts were made asking them to leave. 4. The hot-heads (that exist in every sector; not just Hareidi), became active only once the police showed up.
Usually there is another side to a story. I think that people in this country would be more understanding of each other if the news media would aim to take a more neutral stance, and if the readers (from all sectors) would assume that if a report involving behavior of any one particular sector seems outlandish, there`s probably more to the story
Forgive me for my ignorance concerning this subject but are these the same group that refuses to have their sons and daughters serve in the military to protect Israel?
Lot of conflicting information.
The Mea She`arim is not a fruitful area for missionaries.
Also not so clear about t-shirts, period. I would think women would need their arms covered, which could be the simple answer.
See 18 and 22. Apparently arrests are waiting on complaints, which I hope are filed.
Other reports sound as if the tourists were responsible for the escalation, too. Certainly, violence is not to be tolerated, but I don´t hope that this has an negative impact on the tourism to Israel.
see 18 and 22
WOW!
Maybe it was the free cheeseburgers they were handing out...
I like that idea. You'll need another one printed in chinese charactors for our businessmen going there: "Formosa forever, the mainland whenever we can take it back!"
No, many of these guys hate secular Jews, too. Probably more.
A lot of them pre-date the modern state of Israel and are anti-zionist, being that Israel is not pure enough for them.
When I was in St. Petersburg last year (Russia, not Florida, thanks) there were street vendors selling shirts which showed the hammer-and-sickle "X"ed out Euro-style with the circle and slash which said "The Party's Over!" I thought those were fairly clever, but any slogan worn on a T-shirt, to me...gets old WAY before the shirt does!
Been there, done that, liked the T-shirt. Didn't buy one.
He is correct.
I believe you are correct. About ten years ago, when Ehud Barak was running the Israeli Defense Forces, he initiated a plan to incorporate hareidim in the Armed Forces. I don't believe it went anywhere.
Not WOW!
Try BS!
There are numerous missionaries in Israel. It's illegal to prosteylize minors.
It's illegal to pay for conversion.
If you evangelize adults, and can handle a non-monetary message, you won't run afoul of the law.
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