Haaretz today reports that White House spokesman Trent Duffy sharply criticized Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson for suggesting that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for Sharon's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and some West Bank settlements. On his radio program, The 700 Club, Robertson said: "[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, the United Nations, or the United States of America. God says, 'This land belongs to me. You better leave it alone.'" White House spokesman Duffy's reaction was: "Those comments are wholly inappropriate and offensive and really don't have a place in this or any other debate." (Transcript of Duffy's statement.)
People for the American Way has a transcript and video of Robertson's remarks on its website. Subsequently according to CBN, a Robertson spokesperson issued a statement about Robertson's comments, criticizing "People for the American Way, who have a clear left-wing political agenda and who, on an ongoing basis, lift [Robertson's] comments out of context and widely circulate them in an attempt to discredit him."
