Netanyahu Appointee Forced To Apologize For Insulting Obama, Clouding White House Visit

[Purveyor]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

By JOSEF FEDERMAN | ASSOCIATED PRESS | 26 minutes ago

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's newly appointed spokesman on Thursday apologized for a series of insulting comments about U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, days before his boss heads to Washington on a fence-mending mission.

The apology from Ran Baratz, issued by Netanyahu's office, cast a cloud over Monday's visit. Netanyahu and Obama have had a chilly relationship over the years, and the meeting is meant in part to repair ties after repeated clashes over the U.S.-led nuclear deal with Iran. In Washington, the State Department called Baratz's comments "troubling and offensive," and claimed the prime minister had promised to "review" the appointment.

Netanyahu announced Baratz's appointment as his chief spokesman late Wednesday, and soon after, old Facebook posts had emerged in which Baratz suggested that Obama is anti-Semitic and Kerry cannot be taken seriously. He also derided Israel's popular president as "marginal."

Baratz's appointment still needs Cabinet approval. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue, said a vote had not yet been scheduled, and that Baratz would not be joining Netanyahu on the trip to Washington.

Read more: http://www.newser.com/article/9a32988207894da0b3e3b8390abad003/netanyahu-appointee-forced-to-apologize-for-insulting-obama-clouding-white-house-visit.html

[geek tragedy]

1. committing the cardinal sin: candor nt

[No Vested Interest]

2. Some people just don't know when to keep their mouths shut.

There's (at least) one in every crowd.

[wordpix]

3. "Baratz would not be joining Netanyahu on the trip to Washington" yay, Bibi

He had the sense to tell EmBaratz to stay home. How embaratzing to have your spokesman call the #1 supporter of your nation anti-Semitic. Hopefully the Israeli cabinet won't approve this bozo.

[rpannier]

4. Terribly sorry it was found out

That's about all they're sorry for

[Todays_Illusion]

5. *&%^ him I don't think he should be allowed to enter the U.S. because

Israel would never allow anyone who made such a statement against an Israeli leader into their nation.

[davidpdx]

6. Sounds like just the loudmouth they need to continue to make their PR problems even worse

Best of luck to you Ran!