A White House spokesman says President Bush disapproves of what a leading Christian broadcaster said about Israeli leader Ariel Sharon.

Pat Robertson

Television evangelist Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Mr. Sharon suffered a massive stroke because the prime minister defied, what he termed, the will of God by dividing Israel.

Mr. Bush's spokesman said the president views those remarks as wholly inappropriate and offensive.

Mr. Robertson hosts the popular 700 Club religious show and has been one of Mr. Bush's strongest supporters among Christian conservatives.   But the relationship has been strained by several of Mr. Robertson's recent comments, among them a suggestion that the United States assassinate Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.