Israel: Christian TV channel"s license suspended after allegations of evangelization

Hebrew language TV channel Shelanu has had its license suspended by Israeli regulatory authorities after it became known that its target audience was the general Israeli population and not just Christians, as reported by Haaretz on 28 June 2020. Henriette Kats, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, explains the background: "Shelanu TV is a Christian channel set up in April 2020 by God TV, one of the world's largest Christian broadcasting networks. In its original application to the Israeli cable network HOT, it stated that its target audience was the Christian community. Controversy arose after a fundraising video by God TV emerged, stating: "˜God has supernaturally opened the door for us to take the gospel of Jesus into the homes and lives and hearts of his Jewish people." After accusations of missionary activity targeting the Jewish population were made, the fundraising video was removed and a public apology was issued both in English and Hebrew. However, as reported by Kehila News on 1 July 2020, HOT cable company felt obliged not to start a new license application process, thus ending Shelanu TV"s use of Israeli cable TV." Henriette Kats continues: "Christian evangelization is allowed in Israel as long as it is not aimed at minors and no pressure is involved. This means that Shelanu TV has not been acting illegally. According to legal experts, the channel would have a considerably strong case in court but Shelanu TV decided not to go that far and simply continue its broadcasting online, joining forces with Yeshuchai TV, which has been airing a Messianic channel on the Internet for several years. Nevertheless, this is the first time that a Christian TV channel has been regulated so harshly for reasons of evangelization and this step is clearly harmful to Israel"s reputation of respecting religious freedom."