American television personality and evangelical Christian leader Pat Robertson, backed by an...
Robertson Apologizes for Sharon Remarks
Thursday, January 12, 2006 9:17 PM EST
The Associated Press
By BRIAN MURPHY

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson has sent a letter apologizing for suggesting that Ariel Sharon's massive stroke was divine punishment for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip.

Robertson's comments drew widespread condemnation from other Christian leaders, President Bush and Israeli officials, who canceled plans to include the American evangelist in the construction of a Christian tourist center in northern Israel.

In a letter dated Wednesday and marked for hand delivery to Sharon's son Omri, Robertson called the Israeli prime minister a "kind, gracious and gentle man" who was "carrying an almost insurmountable burden of making decisions for his nation."

"My concern for the future safety of your nation led me to make remarks which I can now view in retrospect as inappropriate and insensitive in light of a national grief experienced because of your father's illness," the letter said.

"I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of the people of Israel," Robertson wrote.

The 77-year-old prime minister suffered a devastating stroke Jan. 4 and remained hospitalized Thursday in critical but stable condition.

The day after Sharon's stroke, Robertson suggested he was being punished for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip last summer. The pullout was seen by many evangelical groups as a retreat from biblical prophecy of Jewish sovereignty over the area.

"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.'"

Despite the apology, it was doubtful Robertson would be brought back into the fold of the proposed Christian Heritage Center in the northern Galilee region, where tradition says Jesus lived and taught.

The exclusion carries a special irony for a preacher who helped define television ministries: The planned complex is to include studios and satellite links for live broadcasts from the Holy Land.

Rami Levi, director of marketing for Israel's tourism ministry, told The Associated Press that the government remains "outraged" by Robertson's remarks.

Israel's tourism minister, Abraham Hirchson, said Wednesday that Robertson's help was no longer welcome for the proposed center.

"But, of course, we continue full engines ahead to construct it because the Christian community around the world — the evangelical community — are friends," said Levi, who is responsible for coordinating tourism contacts between Israeli groups and other faiths around the world.

Christian groups, particularly evangelical congregations from the United States, have become an important source of revenue and political influence.

Evangelicals funnel millions of dollars each year to Jewish settlers in the West Bank and provide aid for those evicted from Gaza. They also represent an essential component of the estimated $4 billion in tourist revenue expected this year.

Levi said groundbreaking on the center could come early this year and the first buildings could be finished within two years. The complex will include an amphitheater and broadcast facilities near key Christian sites, including Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and Tabgha on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish.

Hirchson had predicted it would draw up to 1 million pilgrims a year, generate $1.5 billion in spending and support about 40,000 jobs. Robertson was leading a group of evangelicals who have pledged to raise the $50 million needed to build the site.

But Levi said there was "more than enough outreach" to other Christian groups to meet the funding.

"The government does not rely on one person in constructing such a site, which is important to the Christians around the world," said Levi.

Levi suggested that an apology from Robertson would not get him back on the project, but he said that Hirchson did not exclude cooperation with Robertson on other fronts.

"We love to do joint projects with people. But we are also human beings and we have feelings and we think our partners should consider that at times — especially times like this — that statements like this hurt," said Levi.

Robertson has been doing a lot of this lately.....I don't totally disagree that God is not happy about Israel being divided. I just wonder who is going to be the real Israelie victor's...THe Sanhedrin?Noahides, The Judahites, or the old Israelie government. We will see when the smoke clears!

i hope his apoligy wasn't money driven.

i saw that he made a multi million dollar deal with a comittee of Jerusalem (i think) that they were going to start a huuuuge project of building a church on a sacred area. After months of negotiatio they came to an agreement.
well after his comment, they committee kicked him out because of it. The project will go on but without Pat.

We'll see if he's back on.

I agree. And backpeddling makes him look bad. I can see the apology for the comment about assinating the leader, who's name escapes me right now, but this was not as extreme and he could back it up with scripture. I too, hope it is not about the project. IMHO, it looks worse to apologize now right after the news about his being excluded from this building venture.

Sounds like they are trying to make Jerusalem a modern day Disney Land..
And who will overturn the Tables now? Jesus will return, and it won't be the false agents of Peace.

He is sorry he said it but he still believes it.

Miki, I too beleive there will be a remnant.
It will be those who trust in Christ Jesus, and all will have a chance to be redeemed in our LORD.

The Valley of Decision...to follow Christ or the World views and promises.

Jesus is our PROMISE, and the Covenant is the Holy Ghost and his WORD.

He will show mercy to those whom he desires to show mercy.

So if the Holy Spirit is within us, he resides in us...then it is us whom must show mercy, and pray for our enemies and mocking spirits. We must pray...and forgive...pray for our Faith to not falter in God and each other. God is in control..the only control we have is to LOVE GOD, and each other...and do unto others as you would have them do unto you...so simple and yet the world is full of GREED and Covetedness.

The only thing that bothers me most, is seeing the MOCKING spirits...whom mock the Bible and it's word....and right on our TV in the midst of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave...Where is our Bravery declaring that JESUS IS KING and not the Laws of the Land...but the LAW OF GOD.
The mocking spirtis are seen so clearly, and it pierces our hearts to the core, where CHRIST IS.

For those whom love the LORD our God will not be ashamed to profess the Jesus is the son of the Living God.
And HE our LORD JESUS is the Peace that surpasseth all understanding.

Shall we trust in the govenments of the world? I have lost trust, but it doesn't stop me praying for me to continually trust in Christ our LORD and pray for myself to not lose faith in God and our fellow man....because the world is Evil, and built on good intentions. He rains on the just and unjust.

God can take what was meant for Evil and turn it into GOOD...FOR HE IS KING...and there is nothing new under the sun...for he knows ALL and has purposed this for his reasons and pleasure.

Keep us LORD, you will not leave us...for this is the generation that SEEKS YOUR FACE...their hearts are thristy and minds are not fixed but confused and searching...HE WILL ANSWER us all, and renew us daily, in reverance we come to him, in humility we honor HIM JESUS.

For he will give hope to the hopeless.
And his word will not come back VOID.

And we are commanded to speak the truth in love...Pat was light on the side of love. To much salt spoils the dish.

Acts 17:22-31....For he has set a day for judging the world with justice.

Frustrated because we all have control issues...we need to let go and let God...even in the face of death...death to self and life in Christ....GOOD THING makes us more humble and rely on Jesus in humility and humbleness. I remember you had a real good post on Habakkuk, Miki...which sums many things up clearly.... I think we can all relate to this...for we are all human and miss the mark...Jesus molds the clay.

AMEN!

Wernotalone, you are definitely not alone when you post. I feel Jesus in everything you write. You have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. You speak to me as if Jesus is whispering in my ear the very same thoughts and attitudes you have expressed.

Your faith and love shines on this forum.
God has poured His spirit upon you Wernotalone.

I am blessed everytime I read one of your posts that I feel is from our Lord
Jesus Christ. You have helped me realize again that our burden is light when we just let God do.

God bless you for being such a faithful servant!!!

Thank you for your kind words.
I pray always for my heart to be sincere and seek God's face.
And pride and self-exhaultation needs always to be checked.
Examine our hearts dear Lord, for only you are holy.
I desire to always be humble...but we are only human...thank God for his Grace.

Eph 3:16-21
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, accourding to this power that is at work within us. To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen