GOD TV pulled in Israel over evangelism claims

GOD TV has been told to stop airing on an Israeli cable network over claims that it is trying to evangelise Jews. 

Asher Biton, head of Israel's Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, has given the channel seven days to stop broadcasting on the HOT station. 

In comments to the Associated Press, he said the channel "appeals to Jews with Christian content". 

The Hebrew-language channel first launched in Israel under the name of 'Shelanu' in April but soon faced accusations of proselytism. 

Ron Cantor, region director of GOD TV in Israel, told Kehila News that the allegations were "simply not true". 

"From the first day we met with HOT, it was very clear what we wanted to broadcast: Messianic Jews sharing their faith in Yeshua in a variety of ways, from interviews, to music, to personal stories. And that's what we do to this day," he said.

"Our content providers are Israelis. Sabras. Serving in the Army. Paying their taxes. And we are people of integrity. If we really lied to get a license, of course we would have been caught. It does not make sense. It goes against everything we teach."

GOD TV CEO Ward Simpson has also denied the allegations. 

"The governing authorities that manage these things have been receiving numerous complaints about our content and about different things with the channel, especially as it relates to the rules and regulations of what can and cannot be said on TV in Israel," he said.

He added: "Our attorneys and our staff over there have all told me that we are in compliance and that we are following the rules and regulations, that we are legal and that there is no way that they can really pull us off the air because we haven't done it."