Washington – The United States finds comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new media adviser to be “troubling and offensive” and Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken to the Israeli leader about the issue, the State Department said on Thursday.
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State Department spokesman John Kirby said Kerry spoke to Netanyahu on Thursday and understood the prime minister “will be reviewing” the appointment of Ran Baratz as his communications director after the Israeli leader returns from his visit to the United States.
In comments made in a private capacity, Baratz has accused President Barack Obama of anti-Semitism and suggested Kerry had the mental abilities of a 12-year-old.
“His comments about U.S. officials, including the president and Secretary Kerry, we believe were troubling and offensive,” Kirby said. “We obviously expect government officials from any country, especially our closest allies, to speak respectfully and truthfully about senior U.S. government officials.”
An official said Baratz had apologized to Netanyahu in a phone conversation and in a statement, Netanyahu distanced himself from the comments but indicated the appointment remained valid. He said the two would meet, at Baratz’s request, after he returns from his U.S. trip next week.
“I have just read the things that Dr. Ran Baratz published on the web, including the comments about the Israeli president, the president of the United States and other public figures here and in the U.S. They are inappropriate and do not reflect my positions or the policies of the government,” Netanyahu said.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest welcomed Baratz’s apology and said his comments would not affect the ability of Obama and Netanyahu to advance their countries’ mutual interest.
“It’s readily apparent that apology was warranted. But obviously the decisions that Prime Minister Netanyahu has to make about who will serve his government and represent him and his country are decisions that he rightfully will make on his own,” Earnest told a news briefing.
My goodness the truth really hurts. Guess Obama and the United States can’t handle the truth.
Really. And Obama disses Bibi in the White House, leaving him to find his own way out via a back door? That was fine – I don’t recall any apology for that humiliation.
And a point of interest: Dr. Baratz happens to be right on both points.
Typical Israeli chutzpah.
Zionist from way before Israel was founded always made sure to make Jews in exile uncomfortable.If there wasn’t enough antisemitism the Zionists made sure there is.
This is not some Satmar made up stuff.Theodor Herzl in his diary writes about it very clearly how the more antisemitism the better it is for the Zionist ideology.
In the last few years or so and even more since Netanyahu with his huge Chutzpah became PM they are trying to make worldwide Jews uncomfortable where they live so they will be forced to move to Israel.
The fact that Israel is getting Billions of dollars from America being the biggest Schnorer in the world,doesn’t matter to these Israeli Chutzpniaks and spitting in the face of a sitting US president.
How dare they call a sitting US president an antisemith even IF true?
HE spoke the truth
OK, so for diplomatic reasons he needs to apologize for his remarks.
He’s not wrong, though.
Ran to to the Grave.
Baratz means he is the Earth.
So his whole position is in the Grave under the Earth.
What, are Obama and Kerry second grade babies? They’re insulted that this mans pike the truth, also they’re going to pressure BiBi to get rid of him?! Didn’t Obama say that it was unheard of for a world leader to try to I pose their views on another leader, as he claimed BiBi did when he voiced his opposition to the Iran deal?! I guess what’s good for the black goose ain’t good for the Israeli gander,
This same right-wing beggar will be in the White House next month begging for U.S. to increase military aid from 3 billion to 5 billion. Natanyahu and his cabinet of wing nuts are building a cocoon of isolation around Israel with their inability to interact with the world like professional politicians should. Israeli government should learn the art of diplomacy from the PLO.
Republican spokesmen like Mr Baratz have been saying this sort of thing for years.
AWWWWW “O” IS HURT AWWWWW
The Truth Hurts!