Israeli MP tears up copy of New Testament

The Western Wall and Golden Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in Jerusalem’s Old City.

JERUSALEM, July 17 – An Israeli lawmaker tore up a copy of the New Testament to protest against the dissemination of the “despicable book,” which was sent to members of parliament by a Christian organisation.

MP Michael Ben Ari of the ultra-nationalist National Union opposition party was one of the Knesset members who received by mail on Monday a copy of the “Book of Testaments.”

It contains the Jewish Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament, and the New Testament, the Gospels and epistles of the Christian faith written after the time of Jesus.

A letter sent with the book from the Bible Society in Israel director Victor Kalisher said the new edition “sheds light on the holy scriptures and helps understand them. In addition, the references show the close correlation” between the two.

“We hope the book will help you and illuminate your way,” Kalisher wrote.

A picture published on Israeli news website NRG-Maariv taken by Ben Ari’s aide shows the lawmaker tearing up the book.

“This despicable book galvanised the murder of millions of Jews during the Inquisition and during auto da fe instances,” he was quoted as saying in reference to the New Testament.

“This is an ugly missionary provocation by the church; this book and its senders should be in history’s trash can,” Ben Ari said on NRG-Maariv.

A parliamentary spokesman said that since it was a book and not dangerous materials that was sent, there was no reason to get involved in the lawmakers’ mail.

Kalisher was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

greywolf852

Unfortunately, MK Ben Ari is right. The Bible has been used by Christianity for centuries to oppress and sometimes massacre Jews. That doesn’t excuse his behavior, though.
If he expects people of other faiths to respect his religion and its symbols, then he has to respect the religion and symbols of other people. Intolerance such as this is unacceptable.
Rob

only the new testament? what about the old testament? I’d throw out the one about about god killing people in a hissy fit all the time before i toss out the one about some hippie telling everyone to be nice.

zaxande

Good one….

henry

Leave this to God alone for he judges righteously and justly
Megha Shyam

Some Christian groups have no wisdom and no shame. Westborough Baptist Church in the US is a fine example of this. I also bring to your attention, the missionaries from England, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the US who did so much damage in the colonies they occupied. Too many examples to be proud of all the misdeeds in China India, African countirs. Just look at the political interference in making new laws in Uganda against gays pushed by a church in the US. No responsibility, no wisdom, no adherece to the words of Christ – pure ego, misinformation and yes stupidity blinded by ignorance.

mmTB

One cannot say to help fight against “gay rights is wrong” you/we simply accept it all of a sudden to be right, that doesn’t make it right! we twisted the laws over time, say what if there are still rigtheous people who knows right from wrong and decide to stand by it! Apart from being biblically wrong how can this be good or fruitful anyway not looking at it from a gospel eye’s view! No reproduction/ is a sign of death! GRIMNER- we shouldn’t allow these things neither pamper it! I say fight against it!

bblimtrait

I understand the heart of the person who sent it! As Christians we do believe in the after life- We believe that there is life beyond- and because of our belief in this, our heart melts for those who may not make the right decisions on earth, thus living a not so good after life- hence Jesus said: “Go into all the world making disciples! We bear not to see anyone fall short of the glory that God has promised to everyone- but man’s ways are so cold- we just intednt to remind them God loves them/ us