THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503040464
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Pat Robertson, the Virginia Beach-based religious broadcaster and founder of the Christian Coalition, has suddenly found himself defending a best-selling book he wrote four years ago against assertions that it contains anti-Semitic innuendo.
Written during the Persian Gulf War, the book, ``The New World Order,'' has Robertson's speculations about biblical prophecy and two centuries of history. In part, it weaves theories of a broad conspiracy against American interests by ``European bankers'' and others.
In June, the book was cited in a critical report on the religious right by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, which said the term ``European bankers'' was typically a veiled reference to Jews and has historically been used by those who contend that there is a Jewish conspiracy to control world finance.
But the controversy began in the last month, after a review in The New York Review of Books said it contained an anti-Jewish bias.
In a letter Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League's national director, Abraham H. Foxman, called on Robertson to clarify ``the views expressed'' in the book and repudiate ``its message of a worldwide Jewish conspiracy.''
Robertson did so Friday in a 500-word statement faxed to The New York Times, strongly denying that the book carried any anti-Jewish intent and maintaining instead that it was decidedly pro-Israel.
``I deeply regret that anyone in the Jewish community believes that my description of international bankers and use of the phrase `European bankers' in my book refers to Jews,'' he said in the statement. He said the book ``certainly is not anti-Semitic.''
``If my statements were misunderstood, I offer my sincere regrets,'' he said.
Robertson, chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, said that he would not intentionally use code words against Jewish-owned businesses and that he rejected anyone who would use such language ``as a cover for anti-Semitism.''
Ralph Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition, said Friday that he and Robertson were to meet with Jewish conservatives at the CBN headquarters in Virginia Beach and would likely discuss the statement to ``try to bring this issue to conclusion.'' ILLUSTRATION: Robertson
by CNB