The Associated Press is reporting that Israel has suspended contact with Pat Robertson for his suggestion that Ariel Sharon’s stroke was punishment from God for “dividing” Israel.

The decision, announced Wednesday by Israeli officials, does not affect other Christian groups that also consider it their spiritual duty to support Israel as fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Israeli leaders see the Christian allies as tireless lobbyists in Washington and elsewhere. The evangelicals also funnel millions of dollars each year to Jewish settlers in the West Bank and — before last year’s pullout — the Gaza Strip.

Tourism Minister Abraham Hirchson said he gave instructions to “stop all contact” with groups associated with Robertson. Last week, Robertson implied Sharon’s massive stroke was a blow for “dividing God’s land” with the withdrawal from Gaza and four West Bank settlements.

Needless to say, this is an extremely interesting situation here. I know there are a lot of people out there who firmly believe that the Jews are still God’s chosen people today, and that the land now known as Israel belongs to the Jews. I also know that a lot of these same people strongly support Pat Robertson and even agree with (or at least, are unwilling to criticize) the statement that Pat made about Sharon and his stroke.

But now the Israeli government—the supposed government of God’s chosen people—has cut off contact with Robertson for daring to say what he said. How do Christians, many of whom seem to hold to an “Israel first, America second” stance, deal with this? I am curious to see their reaction to this news, especially since Israel also said they would no longer deal with anyone who agrees with or supports what Robertson said:

“We want to see who in the group supports his (Robertson’s) statements. Those who support the statements cannot do business with us . . .,” Hartuv said.

UPDATE: Robertson has sent a letter apologizing for his statements.

In a letter dated Wednesday and marked for hand delivery to Sharon’s son Omri, Robertson called the Israeli prime minister a “kind, gracious and gentle man” who was “carrying an almost insurmountable burden of making decisions for his nation.”

“My concern for the future safety of your nation led me to make remarks which I can now view in retrospect as inappropriate and insensitive in light of a national grief experienced because of your father’s illness,” the letter said.

Israel isn’t feeling too forgiving, though:

Despite the apology, it was doubtful Robertson would be brought back into the fold of the proposed Christian Heritage Center in the northern Galilee region, where tradition says Jesus lived and taught.

The exclusion carries a special irony for a preacher who helped define television ministries: The planned complex is to include studios and satellite links for live broadcasts from the Holy Land.

Rami Levi, director of marketing for Israel’s tourism ministry, told The Associated Press that the government remains “outraged” by Robertson’s remarks.