I find this so ironically hilarious and extremely satisfying.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...980422,00.html
Robertson tries to save Jesusland after Sharon gibe
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 Old Testament perspective on the division of Israel.
Avi Hartuv, a spokesman for Israel’s tourism minister, said: "We can’t accept this kind of statement. We will not do business with him."
Mr Robertson is leading a consortium of evangelicals who have pledged to raise $50 million (£28 million) to build the Christian Heritage Centre in northern Galilee.
The religious group was to put up the funding, while Israel would lease the land at no cost. The attraction was expected to draw one million pilgrims annually and bring in $1.5 million (£850 million).
The theme park was to be built in 35 acres around key Christian sites such as the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and Capernaum which was described as the town of Jesus in the Bible.
There were plans for food outlets at Tabgha on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the scene of the feeding of the 5,000.
However, the potentially lucrative agreement has been thrown into doubt following comments made by Mr Robertson on his 700 Club programme a day after Mr Sharon suffered a severe stroke.
"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said. "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."’
Mr Hartuv left the door open to continuing the project but only with evangelists who disown Mr Robertson’s statements.
"The contract is still open - just not with Mr Robertson. If there are other Christian leaders, they are most welcome to sign a contract to bring Christian tourists to the State of Israel.
"We want to see who in the group supports his (Robertson’s) statements. Those who support the statements cannot do business with us. Those that publicly support Ariel Sharon’s recovery are welcome to do business with us. We have to check this very, very carefully."