Free Republic

Israel is reconsidering its decision to break off contacts with Pat Robertson over the construction of a Christian heritage park, after the US evangelist apologized for saying Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke was divine retribution, a spokesman said Saturday. Israel and Robertson had been close to finalizing a deal to build the multimillion dollar tourist attraction when the broadcaster said last week that Sharon had been punished by God for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip in September. The comments prompted Israel to call off talks with Robertson over the deal. Robertson issued an apology, which Israel accepted...

Pat Robertson, the American televangelist, today appeared to withdraw a diatribe against Ariel Sharon in an attempt to salvage his $50 million plan for a biblical theme park in Galilee. Ministers in Jerusalem were furious after the millionaire preacher suggested that the Israeli Prime Minister suffered a stroke in divine retribution for carving up the Holy Land in withdrawing from Gaza. The future of the project, nicknamed Jesusland and criticised by some for commercialism in an area of undeveloped rolling hills, is now hanging in the balance. Mr Robertson released a statement saying that he was merely pointing out the...

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson has sent a letter to one of Ariel Sharon's sons apologizing for suggesting that the prime minister's massive stroke was divine punishment for his withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last year. Robertson's' comments last week drew widespread condemnation from other Christian leaders, US President George W. Bush and Israeli officials, who canceled plans to include the evangelist in the construction of a major Christian tourist center in northern Israel.