VOA News: Israel Welcomes Falun Gong Practitioners

(Clearwisdom.net) Since Jiang's regime banned Falun Gong in 1999, Falun Gong practitioners have not been able to practice "legally" in China. Nevertheless, Falun Gong has grown rapidly throughout the rest of the world, even in the Middle East, where violence and conflict are frequent.

In Israel, the number of local residents who practice Falun Gong has grown by several multiples in recent years. While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues, Falun Gong, with its unique depth of understanding, has attracted many people interested in Chinese culture. Additionally, the three religions of the Middle East, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have not expressed opposition to this spiritual practice.

In parks in large cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa and Netanya, groups of practitioners can be seen everywhere. Moreover, very few of the practitioners are Chinese. According to unofficial statistics, there are over four hundred Falun Gong practitioners in Israel. They have established their own web site and translated the Falun Gong books into the locally spoken languages: Hebrew, Arabic and Russian. One Falun Gong practitioner, Ruti, says that through practicing Falun Gong one can be cured of illnesses, become healthy and fit, and improve one's moral quality.

The Practice is Completely Legal

Many of the Israeli Falun Gong practitioners work in the high-tech field. Their decision to follow this new way of practice was not a case of following something blindly. Many local Israelis have explained that practicing Falun Gong has helped them quit smoking, cultivate their hearts, eliminate illnesses, remain healthy, and become kind-hearted. In spite of allegations from China, there hasn't been a single case of physical harm resulting from the practice.

Israeli Falun Gong practitioners are aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Assaf, a computer engineer from Tel Aviv, says that if people all over the world could have patience and tolerance, it would be a good thing. He suggests, "If the Chinese government is afraid of so many good people, what does that say about the Chinese government?"

Mr. Cheng Zuo, who works in the computer field in Israel, is one of the few Falun Gong practitioners of Chinese descent. He says, "The practice in Israel is completely legal. We simply practice in parks. When we practice across from the (Chinese) embassy, . . . then the embassy always calls the police. When the police come, they realize that everything we do is legal. Rather than taking action, they simply come by to check out the situation."

The Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv is known to have called two Chinese practitioners to talk to them, two years ago. The embassy then told the companies where the practitioners worked that they were criminals. The Embassy even refused to issue visas to them. One of the two practitioners, Zion Xiong, believes that the visa refusal is a form of persecution. Xiong says, "I practice Falun Gong. I am an Israeli citizen, and I abide by Israeli laws. My practice doesn't harm China in any way."

Written on 25 August, 2002

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