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.

The Senate's top Democrat, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, joined in the criticism, calling Robert's remark "completely outrageous, insulting and inappropriate."

Sharon "is fighting for his life. He and his family deserve our thoughts and prayers, and I hope Mr. Robertson will offer them after he apologizes," Reid said.

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."

In November, he addressed residents of a Pennsylvania town who ousted school board members who had advocated the teaching of "intelligent design" - the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power - as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God," he said. "You just rejected him from your city." He later said he was simply trying to point out that "our spiritual actions have consequences."



We received the following comment

As a Christian in Israel (and Israel has a hard accepting Christians, especially Jews who believe in Jesus) I was embarrassed and humiliated at Pat Robertson's pronouncement on Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel. This is the last thing Israelis need to hear from Christians. God is the final judge and we don't need to be pronouncing His judgements. Our obligation is to pray for those in authority. Sharon is a man who has served his country his entire life. His wife died before he entered office but always believed that one day he would be prime minister. Vacating Gaza was one of the hardest things he has done. He did it for peace and in response to a tremendous world pressure, of which the US was part of. The shallowness of Robertson's pronouncement only reveals his embarassingly superficial comprehension of life over here. And I am writing this as someone who has grave doubts as to the effectiveness of leaving Gaza. However, we as Christians are not called to denegrate statesmen with our "knowledge" of God's word and mind. How much more dignified and godly it would have been just to offer condolences and pray for mercy on his weak physical frame. Robertson missed a great opportunity to show Jews what Christianity is about.