MIDDLE EAST: Israel's top tourism official has said that he has suspended negotiations with American evangelist Pat Robertson to develop a Christian tourist centre by the Sea of Galilee after Mr Robertson blamed prime minister Ariel Sharon's stroke on divine punishment for withdrawing from Gaza.
"The government cannot do business with a man who said such a horrible thing about our ill prime minister," tourism ministry spokesman Ido Hartuv said. "We reconsidered the deal and realised that we cannot sign with Robertson or anyone who supports his views."
Only six weeks ago, tourism minister Avraham Hirchson had sent a letter to Mr Robertson as the head of a consortium of American evangelists proposing that Israel would donate more than 40 acres of land on the northern shore of the Galilee. In return, the consortium was asked to invest $50 million to develop the Galilee world heritage park, a biblical theme park.- (LA Times-Washington Post service)