Palin talks Israeli flag with Peres

By · October 2, 2008

Sarah Palin says she discussed the Israeli flag in her office with Shimon Peres.

Palin, the Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential pick, met with the Israeli president during a round of meetings last week at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.

“He said, ‘I saw a picture of you on the Internet, and you had an Israeli flag in your state government office,’ and I said, ‘I sure do,’” Palin told Hugh Hewitt, a conservative talk show host, in a show broadcast Tuesday.

“All of those trials and tribulations throughout history that Israel has gone through, not only does that allow me to want to support that country, but Israel is our strongest and most important ally in the Middle East,” Palin continued. “And they are a democratic country who I believe deserves our support, and I know that John McCain believes as I do that Israel is our friend, and we need to be there to support them. They are there for us, and I do love that country.”

The small flag, stuck into a window jamb, appears in the background of an interview Palin gave an online hiking magazine. The Republican Jewish Coalition pointed it out within a day or so of John McCain announcing Palin as his running mate.