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Israeli Jewish Anti-Missionary Group Sues State-Run Radio Stations Over Ad Refusal

By Howard M. Friedman

Yad L'Achim is an Israeli non-profit group, one of whose goals is to counter Christian missionary activity aimed at Jews in Israel. Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday that the organization has filed suit against two Israeli state-operated radio stations which have refused to run Yad L'Achim's ads. The organization wants to run the ads prior to music festivals and major concerts at which Christian missionaries reaching out to young people are particularly active. Both the Israel Broadcasting Authority and Army Radio have refused. Army Radio says that it cannot run ads that "may damage the religious sentiments of different groups."  In a letter to the court, Yad L'Achim said:

a public service announcement or paid ad warning Jews not to fall prey to missionaries would not violate the religious feelings of anyone in Israel. It is the radio stations' social and legal obligation to broadcast the ads. There is, in fact, no more suitable message for Jews in a Jewish state than to tell them to remain strong in their identities and reject anti-Semitic missionary activity.

Yad L'Achim attorneys threaten to go beyond their present suit which demands the ads be run either as a public service announcement or a paid ad. They say they if the stations do not change their stance, Yad L'Achim will file a discrimination claim with the High Court as well.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on November 19, 2010 (boomark / email).