A civil court case in Israel in which Israeli Christians are suing the chief rabbi of Beersheva has been delayed until the spring after clerical staff went on strike. Also being sued is the anti-Christian ultra Orthodox Jewish organization Yad L’Achim.  The case is being brought by a Christian congregation there following an illegal, violent demonstration which broke up one of their services. 

The Christian congregation at Beersheva is known as Nachalat Yeshua. It is claiming one and a half million shekels ($400,000 or £242,000) in damages and compensation after the incident in 2005, in which a mob of ultra Orthodox protestors pushed into the church meeting.  In the ensuing chaos, people were struck and the pastor was thrown into the baptismal tank, had his glasses broken and suffered a cut to his face. Police were called, as well as the riot squad, and although a few of the protestors were arrested, they were released without being charged.  The church is suing as the only way of getting justice in the matter.   The case also brings into the public eye the persecution being endured in Israel by Jewish believers in Jesus Christ.    Lawyer Marvin Kramer, a Christian Jew from New York who moved to Israel, is representing the Beersheva congregation in the case.    An article on the subject can be found at the following website: http://www.israelprayer.com/articles/Beersheva%20Lawsuit%20.html