Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin—John McCain’s dynamic Republican vice presidential running mate—can be counted as a firm advocate for the interests of Israel. In fact, the Alaska governor is so energetically pro-Israel that she displays an Israeli flag in her office, a point that has received widespread attention in the Israeli press and which is now being discussed in pro-Israel journals and newspapers on American soil.
The staunchly pro-Israel “conservative daily,” The Washington Times, unveiled Mrs. Palin’s enthusiasm for Israel in an admiring article on September 4. Declaring that “Palin’s evangelical faith drives pro-Israel view,” the Times’ religion writer, Ralph Z. Hallow, said she is a disciple of the theme that preservation of modern-day Israel is “a biblical imperative.”
Hallow said Mrs. Palin’s religious ideology “makes her a favorite with the staunchly pro-Israel neo-conservative elements in the Republican Party.”
Tucker Eskew, a counselor to Mrs. Palin, affirmed in an interview with the Times that she “would describe herself as a strong supporter of Israel, with an understanding of Israel’s fear of an Iran in possession of nuclear weapons.”
Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, has trumpeted Mrs. Palin’s display of the Israeli flag, noting that “it is very telling” and that it demonstrates that “she has Israel in her heart.”
Mrs. Palin has said that America’s war in Iraq—which was orchestrated by those neo-cons in axis with their allies in Israel—is “a task that is from God.”
Critics say the war was, as former Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) candidly asserted, not God’s will, but rather the Bush administration’s “policy to secure Israel.”
Mrs. Palin’s own former pastor, Paul. E. Riley, has announced that shortly after taking office as governor, she consulted him and requested that he counsel her as to a “biblical example of people who were great leaders and what was the secret of their leadership.”
Riley recommended that Mrs. Palin consult the Book of Esther which tells the tale of the young Jewish queen of Persia. Some see this as somewhat ominous, in as much as modern-day Iran—a target of Palin (and Israel’s) ire—was ancient Persia. And, in the Book of Esther, one finds that Queen Esther*—Palin’s role model—engaged in intrigues that resulted in the mass murder of 75,000 Persians who were considered a threat to the Jewish people, just as today’s Iran is likewise perceived as Israel’s greatest danger.
Critics say Mrs. Palin’s hard-line religious enthusiasm for Israel could influence her decision-making, that she could be swayed by her religious beliefs rather than carefully considered national security concerns.
Although Democrats say Mrs. Palin is too inexperienced in foreign policy, she is being tutored on the issues by John McCain’s close friend (and his reported first choice as his preferred vice presidential running mate), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). He is one of Israel’s most outspoken American cheerleaders. He was hailed by The Washington Post on September 5 as one of the “experts” responsible for helping steer Mrs. Palin in the right direction on foreign policy. In fact, Lieberman is in charge of the McCain-Palin campaign’s foreign policy. Another Jewish-American “expert” who is guiding her on foreign policy is Stephen E. Biegun.
So, in the estimation of Israel and its adherents, the “right” people are surrounding Mrs. Palin. Even before she addressed her fellow Republicans at the GOP convention, according to the Washington Post, “one of Palin’s few meetings . . . with outside groups was with AIPAC,” the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee. To meet with AIPAC, Mrs. Palin canceled a previously scheduled meeting with the Eagle Forum, the political action group run by Phyllis Schlafly.
Reckless Rites: Purim and the Legacy of Jewish Violence is available from TBR Club for $35 minus 10% for subscribers. #476. The Jewish author authoritatively discusses the true legacy of Queen Esther and Purim. Call 1-877-773-9077 toll free to charge a copy to Visa/MC.
A journalist specializing in media critique, Michael Collins Piper is the author of Final Judgment, the controversial “underground bestseller” documenting the collaboration of Israeli intelligence in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He is also the author of The High Priests of War, The New Jerusalem, Dirty Secrets, The Judas Goats: The Enemy Within and The Golem: Israel’s Nuclear Hell Bomb. All are available from AFP: 202-547-5585. He has lectured on these topics in places as diverse as Malaysia, Japan, Iran, Canada, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
By Michael Collins Piper
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