Religious leaders have condemned comments by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson of Chesapeake implying that God’s “enmity” had caused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s recent stroke.
“Sharon was personally a very likable person and I am sad to see him in this condition, but I think we need to look at the Bible and the Book of Joel,” Robertson said on his program Jan. 5, the day after Sharon suffered a massive stroke.
“The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who ‘divide my land.’ ”
Of Sharon’s deal with the Palestinians to pull out of Gaza, Robertson said: “He 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. God says, ‘This land belongs to me. You’d better leave it alone.’ ”
“I am both stunned and appalled that Pat Robertson would claim to know the mind of God concerning whether particular tragic events … were the judgments of God,” said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “Pat Robertson should know better.”
“Even if one agreed with Pat Robertson’s position that the Israelis do not have the right to grant part of the Holy Land to the Palestinians, it would be well beyond Rev. Robertson’s competence to discern that these tragic events were in any way, shape or form the result of God’s judgment on any individuals,” continued Land.
Land was not alone in criticizing Robertson.
Trent Duffy, a deputy White House press secretary, told reporters that Robertson’s remarks were “wholly inappropriate and offensive, and really don’t have a place in this or any other debate.”
According to the Associated Press, the Anti-Defamation League and others took aim at Robertson for his comments.
A press release issued by Robertson’s office noted Robertson had met with Sharon at “significant times and considers him a friend.” It said Robertson was a “lifelong supporter of Israel and has continually expressed grave concern over dividing the land of Israel.”
According to a spokesperson for Robertson, the evangelist was “simply reminding his viewers what the Bible has to say about efforts made to divide the land of Israel.”
Baptist Press and Religion News Service
