Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 5, 1995                   TAG: 9503060066
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Medium

ROBERTSON DENIES ANY ANTI-SEMITISM IN BOOK

``The New World Order,'' published by Word Publishing in 1991, contains the conservative Christian's speculations on biblical prophecy, world history and a conspiracy by ``European financiers'' to control the United States economy.

Robertson wrote the best-selling book at the height of the Gulf War in response to the Bush administration's declaration of a new world order under the leadership of the United Nations. Robertson said the book was written in part to argue against allowing the United Nations to influence American foreign policy and to warn that an international coalition such as the one formed to defeat Iraq could one day be turned against Israel.

Last June, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith wrote a critical report on the religious right that cited the book's use of the term ``European bankers'' as a veiled reference to Jews. The league said the term is used by people who believe there is a Jewish conspiracy to control world finance.

The accusation received wider circulation last month when an extensive review in The New York Review of Books said the book had an anti-Jewish bias. Frank Rich of The New York Times cited the review last week in a column.

The new attention given the book prompted Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, to send a letter Thursday to Robertson.

``You have never responded to critics of the book,'' Foxman wrote. ``It seems to me that it would serve all sides if you clarified the views expressed in it and repudiated its message of a worldwide Jewish conspiracy.''

Robertson responded swiftly, faxing a 500-word letter Friday to The New York Times. He said the book ``certainly is not anti-Semitic'' and maintained that it is, in fact, pro-Israel.

``I deeply regret that anyone in the Jewish community believes that my description of international bankers and the use of the phrase `European bankers' in my book refers to Jews,'' Robertson said in the letter.

``If my statements were misunderstood, I offer my sincere regrets.'' Robertson wrote that he rejected anyone who would use such language ``as a cover for anti-Semitism.''

After reading a copy of Robertson's statement, Foxman said he was ``heartened and encouraged'' by Robertson's ``repudiation and dissociation from those who use code words'' against Jews.

Robertson is the chairman of Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network. He also founded the Chesapeake-based Christian Coalition and the American Center for Law and Justice.

Ralph Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition, said Friday that a statement similar to the one Robertson sent to the newspaper would be published next month in the coalition's newspaper and sent to its 400,000 subscribers.

Reed also said he and Robertson were planning a meeting with Jewish conservatives at CBN and would likely discuss the statement with them to ``try to bring this issue to conclusion.''