Israel Arrests 20 ‘Millennial Christians’

Alarmed by the possibility of violence by extreme Christian groups in the countdown to 2000, Israeli police on Monday detained 20 foreign Christians, many of them Americans, who had settled near the Mount of Olives in recent years in hopes of witnessing Christ’s return.

A police spokeswoman said those in custody--men, women and children who are members of at least two loose-knit Christian groups--were suspected of plotting to harm public safety in Israel. They will be deported, probably within the week, she said.

The early morning sweep through apartments in the Jerusalem suburb of Al Ayzariyah marked the third time since January that Israel has acted against members of Christian groups. Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that the millennium, which is expected to bring millions of tourists to the Holy Land, might also induce a handful of people to use violence to try to hasten Christ’s return.

Police spokeswoman Linda Menuhin said those arrested on Monday, including 13 Americans, three Britons, three Jamaicans and an Australian, were in Israel with expired visas or without passports. But the police also had reason to suspect that in certain circumstances, the detainees might behave in a way that would affect public security, Menuhin said.

She would not elaborate. However, Israeli officials have warned previously that Christian extremists could be planning to carry out acts aimed at precipitating the Second Coming, including destroying the mosques on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount or committing mass suicide nearby.

In January, Israel expelled 14 members of a Denver-based apocalyptic cult, the Concerned Christians, whose members had abandoned their homes and jobs and headed to Jerusalem to await the millennium. Two weeks ago, the government prevented a group of pilgrims, most of them Irish, from entering the country, saying that they too posed a danger to public safety.

On Monday, neighbors and others who identified themselves as friends said the detainees were quiet, devout people who distributed food and clothing to needy Palestinians and did not appear to have any plans for violent acts. Several residents expressed shock at the arrests and said that more than 20 police officers and Israeli border guards had arrived at each apartment.

“They are peaceful, friendly people, and I do not think they would do anything dangerous,” said a 60-year-old Palestinian who rented rooms to several of the arrestees but asked that his name not be used.

Those detained belonged to two groups, the House of Prayer and Solomon’s Temple, police said.

According to police and Al Ayzariyah residents, the arrested included Brother David, a self-described born-again Christian preacher and former trailer park owner from Syracuse, N.Y.; Sister Sharon, a member of his group who is originally from Sacramento; and Sharon’s son Raymond. David, who has said in the past that he shed his last name when he moved to Israel, has lived here off and on for 18 years.

Israeli television showed film of Raymond being led away by police.

“The devil doesn’t like us preaching in the name of Jesus in Israel,” he said.

Residents said the leader of the second group, Solomon Ben-David, is a Jamaican-born New Yorker. Ben-David was detained at the airport Sunday night when he arrived back in Israel from abroad, residents said. Several of his followers were among those arrested in the sweep just after midnight.

Police spokeswoman Menuhin said Christian pilgrims should not be afraid to visit the Holy Land during the millennial year, when 3 million visitors are expected.

“We don’t want Christians to be afraid to come to Israel, but they have to abide by the law,” she said.

But some Christians are nervous.

“Are the police going to be arresting Christians all the time now?” asked David Bogenrief, who described himself as a born-again Christian, a musician and a friend of Brother David. “That’s what we’re all worried about.

“We, as Christians, might look crazy to people because we sing and raise our hands and say that we love God,” he added. “But that’s all.”