[SJackson]

I don't know where you could find the text of the law, but the State Dept. reports each year that it's never been enforced, and notes that it refers to material compensation. I'm guessing that if a 2 page tract fell under that definition, someone would have been prosecuted in the last thirty years. I believe there have been actions regarding minors.

I don't know the background for sure, but I've been told it sprung from an attempt to "purchase" converts to Islam. In Israel religious schools are state funded and some social programs are demonination based, so an increase in Muslims, for example, would likely result in an increase in state funding to their institutions. Whether that was the reason, I don't know. There was also an anti-proselytization law introduced in the late 90s which went nowhere. Some people confuse the two.

[Bonaparte]

"...so an increase in Muslims, for example, would likely result in an increase in state funding to their institutions."

The articles I've been reading on this state that while 20% of those living in Israel are of non-Jewish faiths, only 2% of state funding goes to that group and that, further, the "ultra-Orthodox" Jews receive a disproportionately large share of that funding.

"There was also an anti-proselytization law introduced in the late 90s which went nowhere."

Yes, I'm aware of that proposal. It would have made specific what is currently broad. For example, tracts, Bibles and other publications very specifically could not be produced, disseminated, etc. in Israel.

I believe one of the reasons the current 1977 law is rarely if ever enforced is that it could be challenged on grounds that it violates the guarantee of religious freedom as set forth in Israel's Basic Laws.

There are credible reports from many church affiliated and human rights groups concerning the harassing of Christian educational and charity groups in Israel, including but not limited to beatings, threats, destruction of buildings and other property, such as Bibles, commentaries, tracts, etc. Such activity, when carried out against Jews in countries like Russia and Germany, used to be called "pogroms." The authorities in those countries looked the other way, just as the Israelis reportedly do today.