Posted on 01/05/2006 4:18:52 PM PST by laney
NORFOLK, Va. - Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land."
"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his TV program "The 700 Club." "You read the Bible and he says `This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, `No, this is mine.'"
Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday.
In Robertson's broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called "a very tender-hearted man and a good friend." He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition.
He also said, however, that in the Bible, the prophet Joel "makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land.'"
Sharon "was dividing God's land and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU ( European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America," Robertson said.
In discussing what he said was God's insistence that Israel not be divided, Robertson also referred to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had sought to achieve peace by giving land to the Palestinians. "It was a terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless he was dead," he said.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said.
"It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful."
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said a religious leader "should not be making callous political points while a man is struggling for his life."
"Pat Robertson has a political agenda for the entire world, and he seems to think God is ready to take out any world leader who stands in the way of that agenda," Lynn said in a statement.
Robertson spokeswoman Angell Watts said of critics who challenged his remarks, "What they're basically saying is, `How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?'"
"This is what the word of God says," Watts said. "This is nothing new to the Christian community."
In August, Robertson suggested on "The 700 Club" that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has long been at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Robertson later apologized for his remarks, saying he "spoke in frustration."
Did he toss it all in the air so God could take his share?
My my my........but the long knives DO come out here whenever a Christian conservative leader says something the least bit "controversial", don't they.......
Typical of FR lately, sad to say.
Look up the verses and see if he's wrong, right, misinterpreting, whatever. Debate the point. But jeez, folks....to attack him like this is beyond the pale. He's not withing ill on Sharon, fercryinoutloud, people.
He has done one hell of a lot of good in his life. Far more than any on this thread.
It's tough to pray for that which does not exist. God told me to say that, BTW.
Pat is a Bible believing Christian. Either the Bible is the word of God or it is not.
Heal! Heal!
Pathetic.
Pat has gone off the deep end. He thinks he knows what God is thinking.
Hey Pat! What were those seven deadly sins again?
these types of comments (always taken out of context to the max by the MSM) are embarrasing and stupid.
Do you think that statements like this (which Pat ought to know will be immediately trumpeted by the MSM) are wise, or are of the "Open Mouth - Insert Foot" variety?
And, of course, because Elmer Gantry was a fictional character.
Oslo Abie strikes again.
"It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful."
Abie obviously thinks the "new testament" is Jewish. The G-d of the TaNa"KH is very politically incorrect.
I have no idea what this means. Would you elaborate?
rofling.
Okay, an Elmer Gantry type of preacher.
"Pat, there you go again."
"Has Pat taken up drinking?"
No - but all the botox injections have destroyed his mind...
Robertson is an idiot and his followers are just as bad.
What an f-ing nutcase.
I'm sorry, but I find it astounding that so many conservatives expect the State of Israel to be a western-style secular democracy whose policies have no more metaphysical ramifications than any other country.
The reason for PM Sharon's being stricken are known to G-d alone, but Rev. Robertson is being more of a true religious Zionist than his detractors.
Now if only we could make a Noachide out of him!
I have to disagree with you.
It's not the age.
It's the milage.
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