The Israeli tourism ministry has announced it will go ahead with plans to build an evangelical heritage and visitor centre in northern Israel – but without the involvement of controversial US Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson.

The decision came following comments made by Robertson regarding the illness of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon.

“God will have enmity against any prime minister wanting to carve Israel up and give it away,” Robertson said, suggesting that Sharon’s stroke was God’s way of punishing at the PM following the withdrawal of Israeli settlers from Gaza last year.

The proposed 125-acre, US$50m (£28m, 42m euros) biblical theme park and centre is hoped to attract around a million pilgrims a year.