Pat Robertson Warns Bush Against Dividing Jerusalem
By Laurie Copans Associated Press Writer
Published: Oct 5, 2004
JERUSALEM (AP) - American evangelist Pat Robertson warned U.S. President Bush that he would risk losing the support of evangelical Christians if he changed his position supporting Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.
During a visit to Jerusalem, Robertson has spoken repeatedly in favor of Israel and lambasted Arab countries, warning that the establishment of a Palestinian state would threaten Israel's survival and interfere with "God's plan."
Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed the section of the city as part of its capital. Palestinians want east Jerusalem for the capital of a future state. The holy city is revered by Muslims, Jews and Christians.
Most nations, including the United States, never recognized Israel's annexation of east Jerusalem and keep their embassies in Tel Aviv.
Evangelical Christians - estimated at tens of millions of Americans - overwhelmingly support Bush for his pro-Israel policies, Robertson told a Jerusalem news conference Monday.
"But ... if he touches Jerusalem and he really gets serious about taking east Jerusalem and making it the capital of a Palestinian state, he'll lose virtually all evangelical support," Robertson said. "I think this is the key issue."
Bush had promised in his election campaign in 2000 to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem as a sign of U.S. backing for Israel's hold on the city. But he later thwarted congressional action to move the embassy, reflecting official U.S. policy that the fate of the city should be negotiated by Israel and the Palestinians.
Robertson said Israel should not have to give up land for a Palestinian state but Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt should take in the 3.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network unabashedly said he favors Israel over the Palestinians, saying "it isn't a question of politics, it's just a question of God's plan."
The Virginia-based reverend is visiting Israel as a guest of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. More than 4,000 evangelical Christian pilgrims are touring Israel during Sukkot, the Feast of the Tabernacles, a Jewish holiday some Christians celebrate as well.
AP-ES-10-05-04 0713EDT |
