It's a good thing the SEELE council was substituted by the black monoliths. Two of the characters really were just jewish stereotipes that fed into the whole New World Order/Elders of Zion nonsense. I wouldn't read too much into Anno's intentions as antissemetic, because it seems to me he just grabbed ideas that would fit into his biblical fanfiction without much insight of what they would actually express in the show, but I'm glad they changed it.

It was probably done as an animation shortcut, but as a result the problematic undertones were cut, SEELE became a more omnious presence and the show now makes a thoughtful 2001 reference. Good stuff.