When they first entered, and before the leaders of the congregation realized that this was an organized event, they were told that they were welcome to stay and be part of the service. Once they began to make noises and wander throughout the house and property, more showed up and so did the police. The police at first let it go on, but once it became crystal clear to all what was happening, the whole mood and atmosphere changed to wild religious frenzy and hostility. They began to dance and sing "Am Israel Chai" (The people of Israel live), but it was evident where all this was leading. They began overturning chairs and knocking things around, all the time concerned about the baptisms. When they discovered the pool, they went wild, and began to even push the police around, who by then had called in reinforcements. They threw tables and other objects into the pool, including the pastor, in the process of which his multi-focal glasses were also broken. They threw to the bricked ground the high-wattage overhead projector, which is necessary for semi-outdoors facility. One believer was hit with a fist on the jaw; at least another one was spit on pretty much; a couple of cars received kicks and dents; the front gate handle and lock was torn off and damaged; and the part of the fencing around the top of the wall of the house was broken down. A policeman did grab the pastor in the throat in all the confusion and unruliness. Even children participated in the destructive and profane acts, and the parents admitted to teaching them to behave that way towards Jews who believe in Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messiah.

The police handcuffed a couple of the more violent who had hit one of the believers and resisted the police, but after the chief Sephardic rabbi Deri arrived to what was in fact an illegal demonstration and invasion of private property -- and "religious" property, at that - the police let the two go with a warning.

The leaders of the Messianic Congregation in Beer Sheva turned over to the police some video footage that was taken, and some other photos, so that they have some visual evidence of the nature of the disturbance. It is the nature of men doing what they think is the will of God to claim that the believers provoked them to act in self-defense, rather than they being held liable for breach of civil and even criminal law.

With all that happened, God has rescued the day and after a couple of hours of all this the service went on, praying for the police, who were still around in force, and for the lost sheep of the House of Israel, most of whom still do not know who or what they are doing or resisting. Some rocks were still being thrown over the wall after the crowds were eventually dispersed.



Pictures from the attack can be seen here www.ha-makom.com