• ISRAEL \ Aug 17, 2007
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    One-Sided Love: Evangelical pastor asked to leave the country
One-Sided Love: Evangelical pastor asked to leave the country Interior Ministry officials said that the decision was made after there were suspicions that Cantrell was involved in missionary work.

Cantrell categorically denied the allegations of missionary work as baseless.

Cantrell, who has been active in raising money for Israel as well as working on behalf of Soviet Jews, had resided in Israel on a special clergy visa during his work for Bridges for Peace, but then went back to a regular tourist visa that needed to be renewed every three or six months, he said.

The highly coveted but sparsely distributed clergy visa is primarily given out to officials with mainstream Christian organizations.

Cantrell, who travels extensively on lecture tours, could have continued living in Israel if he left the country at least once every three months, but said that was an "unworkable solution" for his wife.

This week his appeal for permanent residency in Israel was turned down by the Ministry of the Interior, and he and his wife were instructed to leave the country within two weeks.

Cantrell said that no reason was cited in the application denial.

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said that the couple's request to receive residency status, after residing in Israel for years on various temporary permits, was brought before all the levels in the ministry up to the acting head of the population authority, who also served as the director general of the office.

The request was turned down last month, she said.

Interior Ministry officials said that according to information that reached the ministry there were suspicions that Cantrell was involved in missionary activity.

The organization's web site says that the couple "encourages Christians and Messianic Jewish believers in their understanding of the prophetic Scriptures" and "encourages believers to participate in God's end-time plans by being involved in positive support for the nation of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide... in the regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland."

The issue underscored the delicate balancing act Evangelical Christian supporters of Israel face when dealing with the Jewish State, which bans proselytizing and their fundamental belief that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land was foretold in the Scriptures and heralds the return of the messiah.



Shalom Shalom Jerusalem's web site - www.shalom-shalom-jerusalem.org

Bridges for Peace Web site - www.bridgesforpeace.com
Comments
1.Israel lovers thrown out
 Ahmad, August 20, 2007 21:01
2.he misses his patron
 Ahmed Shahi Kusuma, October 4, 2007 14:38