Pat Robertson Speaks on Israel to Appreciative Audience at Framingham Temple

Before he spoke a word, the Rev. Pat Robertson was greeted by a standing ovation at Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham April 14. It was no secret to most of the congregation that Robertson is one of the foremost supporters of Israel in the Christian world.

"I always say that if you want to hear Israel trashed, turn on NPR. If you want to hear Israel defended, turn on The 700 Club," said Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, who moderated the program. "The Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition are among the most vocal and passionate supporters of Israel."

Robertson said that he is often asked what makes him so quick to defend Israel.

"I had a praying mother, and I was always being told about a verse from the Bible where God says to the Jewish people: 'I will bless them who bless you and curse them who curse you.'" Robertson said that it was strongly impressed upon him that Christians have an affinity with the Jewish people.

"This has nothing to do with politics, or with the fact that Israel is an aircraft carrier in a sea of tyranny in the Middle East, or that it is the only democracy in the Middle East." Robertson said that the important elements for him are the shared heritage and values of Christians and Jews.

"I identify with people like David, Jeremiah, and all the prophets who set the standard for our way of living as well as for that of the Jewish people. Indeed, St. Paul says that we Christians are branches that have been grafted onto the tree that grows out of Abraham."

Robertson described Israel as "a western outpost in the midst of a medieval form of tyranny."

He recalled several years ago when his production crew was filming in Lebanon. "Twice the Hezbollah blew up our trailer. Twice, our studio was trashed. Now, I would have liked to think our program was the most popular one being translated into Arabic, but it was wrestling! Syrian communists shot rockets at our transmitter, but they lost favor all over the Middle East, because the viewers lost wrestling."

Robertson told the congregation that it was during this period that he finally understood the pressure under which Israelis live.

"Funding for Hezbollah was coming out of Iran through Syria, which now has 10,000 rockets aimed at Israel. In spite of Sept. 11, I don't think we've learned yet the terror of living under constant threat of suicide bombers.'

Sidebar:
Reaction to Rev. Robertson Varies

Jeanette Taylor drove to Framingham from Brookline with her friend Martin Fedderman to join 10 other people protesting Pat Robertson's appearance at Temple Beth Sholom.

"Pat Robertson is anti-Jewish, anti-homosexual, anti-woman," Taylor tells MassNews.

When Fedderman was arrested, ostensibly for passing out fliers, Taylor said that "700 Club people put up the money to have the police out here."

The fliers claim to contain incendiary quotes from Robertson, but the quotes would not seem contentious to anyone well-versed in evangelical Christianity.

Jeff Jacoby cited a book called The Religious Right: The Assault on Tolerance and Pluralism in America, in which Pat Robertson is identified as part of the "assault." Jacoby said that liberals often think of evangelical Christians as enemies of tolerance and pluralism, "Especially those who don't know any."

Nancy Bushinsky, a member of Temple Beth Shalom's Committee for Adult Education, tells MassNews: "A congregant who is a personal friend of Pat's suggested that we have him as part of our speakers' program." The temple regularly features guests who speak on Judaism and the state of Israel. The committee then voted to extend an invitation.

"The reaction to the invitation was mixed going in, but coming out we have had a lot of phone calls thanking us. They say, 'I can't disagree with him!'

"The idea is for people to listen and learn and make up their own minds. I am a liberal turned middle-of-the-roader, and I think Pat is a very knowledgeable, well-educated man. He is fascinating to listen to."

Bushinsky said that the idea for the speakers' program is for people to "go directly to the source and listen to them." As for the protesters, "I'm glad there were only twelve people out there."

"Three years ago, I was in Jerusalem listening to an outdoor concert at an area of 'the old city' called 'the citadel.' It was a full moon, beautiful night.

"The phone rang. It was Yasser Arafat. He said, 'Will you come down and see me?'

"Well, it was late and dark, and he told me to drive to a particular place. I remember thinking it was like a spy movie. We left in a car with Israeli plates and changed into a car with Palestinian plates, and took off into Bethlehem. On the way, we passed the tomb of Rachel. The driver said, 'Rachel is one of the holy mothers of Islam.'

"'Rachel is one of the holy mothers of Islam'? I remember thinking, 'Dear me, this is the propaganda war Israelis are up against!"

"Then we got to Bethlehem, which is a Christian city, but Christians had been either killed or deported or locked up. There were PLO soldiers with Russian-made equipment standing around.

"Arafat was sitting on what appeared to be a throne at the end of a long hall, and I thought, 'This is weird!'"

Robertson said that Arafat told him that "there was going to be a concession about Jerusalem." Arafat said that he wanted half of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, the holiest sight in Judaism.

"The Temple Mount is where Solomon's temple was built, where Abraham offered up Isaac," said Robertson, "and it doesn't belong to the Palestinians or to the PLO or to Yasser Arafat!"

Robertson said that the world has got to learn that: "Israel is not a ward of the United Nations! The Israeli government is perfectly capable of making its own decisions. [Former Prime Minister Menachem] Begin gave up a lot. Did it bring peace? No! There is only one end to their game, and that is the destruction of Israel.

"If hostile forces control that West Bank, Israel is at risk. The PLO is an organization preaching hate."

Robertson said that the surrounding Arab governments have never done anything to promote the welfare of the Palestinian people. "There's plenty of money and opportunity. They want to keep a cancer growing as a provocation against Israel. Lebanon doesn't want the Palestinians. Jordan doesn't want them."

Robertson said that with the fall of Saddam Hussein, one dangerous factor has been eliminated, but the Wahabi sect of Islam continues "to spew out virulent anti-Semitism."

Jeff Jacoby read a question from the audience to the effect that in the United States, the strongest support for Israel is found on the right, but in 1948, the creation of the Israeli state was a good liberal cause. What has changed this?

"There is that vain hope that the cause of the left should be on the side of the oppressed," answered Robertson. "Yasser Arafat has portrayed himself as that, despite his violence. Also, in the early days, Israel was statist. Their economy is now closer to - dare I say it? - American Republicanism!"

Another questioner said that in Robertson's worldview, Christians and Jews are "the good guys," while Muslims are "the bad guys." Are their any Muslims who want peace?

Robertson recommended the book Hatred's Kingdom, about the influence of the Wahabi sect in Saudi Arabia.

"If that strain can be restrained," he said, "there probably are thousands of Muslims who would like to live in peace."

Jacoby read a question regarding the evangelical Christian view of the Jews in Biblical prophecy. Robertson quoted the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, who speaks of a final battle for Jerusalem. ("There is no 'battle of Armageddon,' except in The Washington Post,' he added laughing.) "When Israel is under its most intense pressure, they will call upon the Lord."

Evangelical Christians, according to Robertson, have a "visceral, heartfelt love of Israel as God's fulfillment of His plan for mankind and for the Jewish people." He says, "The Jews are a testimony of the faithfulness of God. When Queen Victoria asked Benjamin Disraeli for the most compelling proof that God exists, he answered: 'The Jews.'"

Robertson recommended the current film The Pianist, because it is an illustration of the way in which "The Jews are hated because they are evidence of God's faithfulness. Their return to the land is the fulfillment of prophecy. The devil doesn't want that."

Robertson said that William L. Shirer, author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, wrote that Hitler was demon-possessed, and that most of Hitler's lieutenants were deeply involved in occult practices.

"Hitler used to fall down and chew the carpet and foam at the mouth. He was absolutely nuts!"

Robertson said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "is very strong on Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz, because they understand the spiritual significance of what's going on. Clinton did great damage. He actually sent James Carville to campaign against my buddy, Bibi Netanyahu! The people then elected Ehud Barak, who was a disaster.
"What you have to remember about Arafat is that these people lie. He is a dangerous person. Bush has isolated Yasser Arafat, but we have to see if his hand-chosen successor will be any better. These people are as smooth as butter.

"If anyone in the Palestinian Authority speaks out against Arafat, he will be shot. The persecution of Christians at the hands of Muslims is extraordinary. Freedom House, among other organizations, is speaking out about this.

"There is a virulent minority who seeks our destruction. It would seem to behoove us all to join hands together," Robertson said. "Christians and Jews have common aims, a common heritage, and a common enemy."