I will not defend this Christian ‘preacher’ ( Palin is a baptised Catholic, by the way), but the use of the term “Israelite” is both flattering and insulting.

Let me explain.

It is a term that Ahmadinejad, for example, would never use because it implicitly suggests that the Israelis of today are the direct and uninterrupted descendants of the Biblical Jews, a FACT Islam consistently denies

Nor would any Muslim cleric would ever use the term “Israelite” to describe 21st century Jews because such usage would undermine Islam’s claim on Jerusalem and confer both status and legitimacy on the state of Israel.

So far, so good!

After that, though, things get nasty. This pastor DOES harbour anti-semitic sentiments in that he, like so many vulgar neo-nazis and Islamists, is clearly convinced that the Jews control all, or most, aspects of business, commerce, communications and culture.

So, although he acknowledges and even embraces Jewish historical claims such as the direct link between modern and biblical Jews and the legitimacy of Israel, he nonetheless veers off into David Duke territory and invokes cabals and conspiracies and what not.

You disingenious lil’ dickins, you! Try the following:

Louis Farrakhan – Jeremiah Wright – Barack Obama.

Let’s see: no rules on mortgages, republicans controlling House from 1994-2006, Senate from 2000-2006, White House from 2000-2008. Not to mention that making quick profits and coming up with new loan schemes fits perfectly with the “unfettered free market” they go on and on about.
The chutzpah in blaming it on the democrats is incredible, but not surprising.

It is high time that we have top Christian businessmen, businesswomen, bankers, you know, who are men and women of integrity, running the economics of our nations.

Here, I believe he wants pious Christians in positions of power and influence in the business community of “our nations” – meaning predominantly Christian nations. Not particularly surprising.

If you look at the Israelites, you know, that’s how they won. And that’s how they are, even today.

Here, I think he is referring to the success of Israelites of the past and Israelis of the present because of their sense of determination and unity – and perhaps even what he considers to be Israelite piousness. Note that nowhere does he suggest that Jews or Israelites or Israelis “control” the economies of the US or any other country other than Israel.

But then you have his “And that’s how they are, even today”– which suggests he’s discussing more than just ancient biblical history.