Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Egypt, South Africa pledge to deepen development cooperation at G20 meeting    Egypt's PM orders road maintenance review, tougher penalties to curb accidents    Egypt, Novartis explore expanding collaboration in oncology, cardiology    Iran launches mass deportation of Afghans amid spying allegations    EU, China agree on rare earths, climate but divisions remain on trade, Ukraine    Association of Real Estate Developers seeks urgent meeting over threatened land deallocation on Northwest Coast    Midar partners with Adeer to develop Boulevard project in Mostakbal City with EGP 70bn investment    Over 60 million visits recorded under Egypt's Women's Health Initiative since 2019    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Thailand, Cambodia clash on new front as tens of thousands flee    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    UK pay settlements stagnant amid inflation surge    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US slams 'offensive' comments by Netanyahu's new spokesman
Published in Daily News Egypt on 06 - 11 - 2015

Netanyahu's newly appointed spokesman Ran Baratz has apologised for private comments about top US officials. Baratz had accused Obama of anti-Semitism and suggested that John Kerry has a mind of a 12-year-old.
The US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed Baratz's past remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State Department said on Thursday.
"His comments about US officials, including the president and Secretary Kerry, we believe, were troubling and offensive," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
Kirby added that he believed Netanyahu "will be reviewing" his decision to name Baratz as his communications director, less than a day after Israeli Prime Minister announced the move.
"We obviously expect government officials from any country, especially our closest allies, to speak respectfully and truthfully about senior US government officials," Kirby said.
Baratz' controversial comments resurfaced in Israeli media late Wednesday, just hours after he was named Netanyahu's chief spokesman.
The timing of the appointment also raised eyebrows in Washington, with Netanyahu set to start an official visit to the US on Monday.
State Department to ‘wake up'
In a Facebook entry last March, Baratz criticised Obama's response to Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress. The US president's reaction "was what modern anti-Semitism looks like in Western and liberal countries," Baratz said.
In October last year, Baratz wrote an article on US top diplomat John Kerry, expressing hope that the State Department would "wake up" after Kerry was gone and see the world "through the eyes of a man with a mental age above 12".
He has also taken aim at Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, claiming that he is a marginal figure.
"We could send him by paraglider to the Syrian Golan controlled by ISIS" and they would want to send him back, Baratz wrote.
‘Hastily' and ‘humorously'
Baratz apologised for the "hurtful" remarks in a Facebook post on Thursday.
"I'm sorry that I didn't inform the Prime Minister in advance about them. These postings were written hastily and sometimes humorously, in a manner appropriate for a private person writing on the Internet," Baratz said.
Netanyahu himself also distanced from his new spokesman's comments.
"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 US. They are inappropriate and do not reflect my positions or the policies of the government," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu and Baratz are set to meet after the prime minister returns from the United States.
The Israeli Cabinet still needs to issue the final approval for Baratz's appointment, and some ministers have stated they plan to oppose it.


Clic here to read the story from its source.