Sniping at Israel’s head of state, Baratz commented on Facebook final week about pictures displaying President Reuven Rivlin – whose publish is essentially ceremonial – sitting in financial system class on a flight again from an official go to to the Czech Republic.
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Baratz recently said on his Facebook page that US President Barack Obama’s response to Netanyahu’s speech to Congress this year was an example of “modern anti-Semitism in liberal Western states”.
When he said Secretary of State John Kerry had the mental capacity of a child and should be a comedian. “We obviously expect government officials from any country, especially our closest allies, to speak respectfully and truthfully about senior USA government officials”, Kirby added.
The comments by Ran Baratz threatened to overshadow Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington next week, during which he will attempt to heal a rift over the Iran nuclear deal.
The prime minister’s office said via a Facebook post that Netanyahu was unaware of Baratz’s comments before appointing him and believes that they are “unworthy expressions”, according to the New York Times. “Dr. Baratz has apologized and has asked to meet me to clarify the matter following my return to Israel”.
Baratz will not be joining Netanyahu on the Israeli leader’s trip to the USA, Israeli officials told the BBC.
In October previous year, Mr Baratz termed as “comical” remarks Mr Kerry made on the occasion of a Muslim holiday, when he said Middle East leaders had told him feelings stirred by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were a factor in Islamic State recruitment.
Besides his comments on Obama, Baratz reportedly wrote that Kerry’s “mental age” was no older than 12. It is understood that Mr Baratz will not travel to the United States with the prime minister next week.
“Allow me to be a bit blunt, which is a break from my usual moderation”, Baratz wrote. Another Netanyahu spokesman deals with the foreign press.
The prime minister’s office announced the selection of Baratz on Wednesday evening. Netanyahu, for his part, has repeatedly accused Abbas of inciting violence against Israelis in recent months. That’s why it’s so important he make clear that, not only is the status quo unsafe and unacceptable, but that government actions which undermine the two-state solution hurt Israel’s special relationship with the United States.
Baratz has since apologized for his statements, saying they were made lightheartedly and as a private citizen.
Baratz’s appointment still has to be approved by the cabinet. But now that he knows that his intended appointee has expressed such views about the president, the secretary of state and President Rivlin, the appointment becomes untenable.
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Baratz, 42, who has a doctorate in philosophy and founded Mida, a rightist website, lives in the settlement of Kfar Adumim, near Jerusalem, and has a professional background in high technology, according to an announcement from the prime minister’s office.
