New Israeli spokesman apologizes for insulting Obama

Preparation for that meeting has been overshadowed by Netanyahu’s appointment of a new media chief, Ran Baratz, who has previously branded Obama an anti-Semite and mocked Secretary of State John Kerry.

Baratz termed as “comical” remarks 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 Isis recruitment. “They are inappropriate and do not reflect my positions or the policies of the government”, Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu’s office announced Baratz’s appointment Wednesday night as the premier’s head of public diplomacy and media, and Israeli news sites have since dug up a string of comments he has made.

At the time, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Netanyahu’s comments forced the White House to “re-evaluate” its approach toward achieving a two-state solution.

Secretary of State John Kerry-who was also among Baratz’s targets-spoke with Netanyahu about the matter by phone Thursday.

Baratz, 42, lives in Kfar Adumim in the West Bank and holds a PhD in philosophy from Hebrew University.

Baratz is the latest in a series of controversial appointments by Netanyahu.

Since October 1, Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 74 Palestinians, including unarmed protesters, bystanders and accused attackers.

“Obama’s way of speaking about Netanyahu’s speech-that is the modern face of anti-Semitism in Western and liberal countries”, Baratz wrote. “I apologize for the hurtful things I posted”, he wrote.

Clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians at the compound in September preceded a recent wave of deadly violence that has provoked fears of a full-scale Palestinian uprising.

She said she believed Washington had a duty to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table, and “as president I will never stop working to advance the goal of two states for two peoples living in peace, security and dignity”. Malley said the president would ask “how does the prime minister see things going forward” and hear his ideas of “what can be done in the absence of negotiations”. It is very clear to me that in my official role I have to behave and express myself differently.

“First they have to negotiate with the White House”, one senior congressional aide said of the Israeli regime. They will also discuss the next 10-year memorandum of understanding on military cooperation between the United States and Israel; the chaotic situation in Syria; how to counter Iranian threats to Israel, either from Syria or through Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza; and the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal that Obama championed and Netanyahu ardently opposed.

A narrowly divided Mississippi Supreme Court voted to allow a lesbian couple to seek a divorce, even as two justices questioned the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and suggested that landmark…

“This is the man the prime minister chose to be my mouthpiece, all of our mouthpieces, to talk to the world in our names”.