International Christian Embassy (ICE), an evangelical organization that has been ministering in Israel since 1980, has recently seen the Israeli government refuse to renew the visas for its employees, the Christian Post report.

Over the years, ICE has invested nearly $25 million in humanitarian causes in Israel including building 250 bomb shelters and providing aid to Holocaust survivors and their families.

Visas for religious work in Israel are renewed annually and the fact that these are now being refused is concerning as it could effectively end ICE ministry. Other ministries are also reporting similar difficulties.

The Israeli government has not provided any information on why it’s refusing to renew the visas.

Some have wondered if the minister in charge of the Ministry of Interior that handles visas, Moshe Arbel, who is an ultra-Orthodox rabbi may be behind the decision. Others suggest it may be lower-level bureaucrats making the decisions.

It is estimated that 2% of Israel’s citizens are Christians with the bulk of them, 76%, found in the Arab population.

ICE has stated it will appeal the decision not to renew the visas and if that fails may take the issue to court.

READ: Israel rejects prominent Evangelical Zionist group’s clergy visas, threatening future operations