Pat Robertson: A Complicated Friend of Israel

By Eric George Tauber

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Pat Robertson, the founder of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), has died at the age of 93. Why write about a Christian media giant in a Jewish magazine? Robertson is noteworthy to us for both his controversial role in American politics and also for his relationship with Israel.

Long before Fox News, CBN was a booming voice in conservative media that many ears hearkened to and still maintains a sizable, devoted following. Their coverage of Israel is particularly extensive, booking Israeli prime ministers for in-person interviews on their flagship program, “The 700 Club.” Robertson had a particularly close relationship with Bibi Netanyahu, who last March felicitated the elderly Robertson on his 93rd birthday saying:

“You’ve been a tremendous friend and I have to say, you have many friends and many admirers around the world for the life of purpose that you have led. But I want to say categorically that Israel has had no better friend than you. You have led many Christian believers around the world to understand the miracle of the Jewish return to the ancient Jewish homeland, the resurrection of Israel and the reuniting of Jerusalem. I know all that stirs your heart as much as it does mine. And I want to also say that you’ve been a great personal friend. So, for all of that and much more, thank you, Pat. Happy Birthday.”

Robertson was particularly supportive of growing the Jewish presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These areas claimed and developed by Israel were about more than politics. To Robertson, the Master of the Universe had placed these disputed territories into Israel’s hands and woe unto anyone willing to give them back. It was Robertson’s belief that the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin in 1996 and the debilitating, and later fatal, stroke of Ariel Sharon were the result of Divine Judgment for the Oslo Accords and the surrender of Gush Katif respectively.

“The Prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who, quote, ‘divide My land.’ God considers this land to be His. … And for any prime minister of Israel who decides he’s going to carve it up and give it away, God says, ‘No. This is Mine.’ And the same thing – I had a wonderful meeting with Yitzhak Rabin in 1974. He was tragically assassinated. And it was a terrible thing that happened. But nevertheless, he was dead. And now, Ariel Sharon, who was again a very likeable person, a delightful person to be with. I prayed with him personally. But here he is at the point of death. 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, the United Nations or United States of America. God said, ‘This land belongs to Me. You’d better leave it alone.’” (Pat Robertson, 700 Club, Jan 5, 2006)

In all fairness, there were quite a few Orthodox rabbis who expressed similar sentiments. However, this was a man who tended to have a really weird sense of cause and effect. Extreme weather events like hurricanes were not -in his reckoning- the effects of climate change. Rather, the true culprits of mass destruction were things like Feminism, Abortion, Homosexuality and the teaching of Evolution. For example, in response to Disney World’s Gay Days celebration in 2013, Robertson said:

“I would warn Orlando that you’re right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don’t think I’d be waving those flags in God’s face if I were you. … It’ll bring about terrorist bombs. It’ll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor.”

For the record, the meteors never got Robertson’s memo.

Of course, what’s a televangelist without an “End of the World” prediction? In 1976, Robertson predicted that the world would end in 1982. Spoiler alert: It didn’t. Nor was it destroyed on April 29, 2007 as Roberston predicted in his book, The New Millennium published in 1990. He also claimed that, “without question” Trump would win re-election in 2020. I guess Robertson missed the class when they covered the warning against false prophets in the Torah:

“How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? Know that when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it out of presumption. Thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deut 18:21-22, Koren Jerusalem Bible)

Circling back to Israel, when right-wing Christians assert that they “love Israel and the Jewish People,” it’s important to note what they mean. Certainly, they love Israel as a tourist destination, and for that, God bless them. Israel needs their money. But all too often, what they love most about Israel is her role in eschatology as the staging area for Armageddon and the Second Coming. In this scenario, bowls of Divine Wrath will be poured out, and all “born again” Christians like them will be greatly rewarded. As for the rest of humanity, we will be disposed of in the Lake of Fire like yesterday’s rubbish.

This fervent yearning for the End of Days led Robertson to political stances that sound cold-blooded in their sociopathy. For example, Robertson welcomed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, seeing the Putin as an agent of Divine Will. In February of 2022, the elderly Robertson came out of retirement to appear on The 700 Club to give this editorial:

“I think you can say, well, Putin’s out of his mind, and yes, maybe so. But at the same time, he’s being compelled by God. He went into Ukraine, but that wasn’t his goal. His goal was to move against Israel, ultimately.”

Robertson went on to explain how this would work while ignoring pertinent geopolitical variables. The main thing is that he actually welcomed the invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign ally, because it could eventually lead to an invasion of Israel. Why would a staunch Zionist support this? It comes from his eschatology. There is a scenario described in Ezekiel in which God shows off His might.

“And it shall come to pass on that day, when Gog (Russia) shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury shall glare out, for in My jealousy and in the fire of My anger have I spoken….” (Ezek. 38:18-19)

The good news is that Israel ultimately triumphs against her assailants. As to the millions of lives lost and cities destroyed, well, you can’t make an omelet….

While Israel has certainly lost a vocal ally in Pat Robertson, CBN will go on, giving in depth coverage of Israel that appeals to a certain segment of the population. And many Christians will continue to voice their “love” and support for Israel, bringing their tourist dollars to the Holy Land. Other “prophets” will surely come and go. The world will end a few more times, or it won’t. Women’s clinics, Pride festivals and Museums of Natural History will be pummeled by meteors, or they won’t. In the meantime, let us watch our allies with cautious eyes. Not everyone who says they love us truly has out best interests at heart.

*

Eric George Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in the arts and social Justice based in Cincinnati, Ohio. His work has been published in sdjewishworld.com, sdtheatrereviews.com, themoderatevoice.com, and jewishvoice.com. He can be contacted at ericgeorgetauber@gmail.com.