Protecting Religious Freedom in Israel

 

I want to bring you an update from Israel on a very important issue that I have been working on with our legal team for some weeks now.

 

We continue to push the Israeli government to make an arrest and prosecute the individual or individuals responsible for the bombing of the home of a Messianic Jewish pastor whose teenage son was gravely injured. 

 

The facts are clear:  A bomb was concealed and made to look like a gift package.  It was sent to the home of David Ortiz, a prominent pastor who has been living in Israel for more than 20 years.  The package exploded sending Davids 15-year-old son, Ami, to the hospital where he lost two toes, suffered a hearing loss, and received serious burns and shrapnel wounds.  Davids son will require more surgery and much more therapy.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers. 

 

This cowardly and tragic act was aimed at the Ortiz family for one reason: because they believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

 

This violence is the latest and clearly the most serious in a series of acts aimed at Messianic Jews in Israel.  They are being targeted because of their religious beliefs.  This is fast becoming a very high profile case with international news coverage focusing on this event.

 

I have met with lawyers and Israeli government officials, including the Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who has assured me that he is closely monitoring the investigation.  No arrests have been made yet; but it is imperative that the Israeli authorities find out who was behind the heinous attack, and then they must be forceful in the prosecution and punishment of those responsible.

 

I told the Jerusalem Bureau Chief for CNSNews.com that justice must be served in this case.  I truly believe that.  Its also important to ensure that this violent episode does not escalate.  We want to make sure there is no "trend" of religious persecution developing here.

 

Understandably, there is concern from the Ortiz family.  Amis mother, Leah, told the Associated Press:  I believe that it will happen again, if not to us, then to other Messianic believers.

 

We certainly hope that is not the case, and we will continue to work for the religious freedom of the Ortiz family and others who deserve to live and exercise their faith without fear and violence.