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U.S. calls comments by Netanyahu's new media chief "troubling and offensive"

Xinhua, November 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States believes comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new media chief to be "troubling and offensive," U.S. State Department said Thursday.

"We obviously expect government officials from any country, especially our closest allies, to speak respectfully and truthfully about senior U.S. government officials," State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a daily news briefing.

Soon after Netanyahu announced Ran Baratz's appointment as his chief spokesman late Wednesday, old posts on social media Facebook and other website surfaced that Baratz has accused U.S. President Barack Obama of anti-Semitism.

Baratz has said Secretary John Kerry had the mental abilities of a 12-year-old and he also suggested his own country's president was "a marginal figure," according to Israeli media reports.

"His comments about U.S. officials, including the president and Secretary Kerry, we believe were troubling and offensive," Kirby said.

Kerry spoke to Netanyahu on Thursday and understood Netanyahu "will be reviewing" the appointment of Baratz after the Israeli leader returns from his visit to the U.S., Kirby told reporters.

The White House also defined its position on the incident, saying that "It's readily apparent that 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," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told a news briefing.

According to reports, Baratz had apologized to Netanyahu in a phone call.

The 42-year-old philosophy lecturer also posted an apologetic statement on Facebook, defending his previous comments were "easy-minded and also in a kidding manner in a language for social networks and private."

"I'm sorry that I didn't inform the Prime Minister in advance about them," he said, adding that he will have to behave differently in his official role, and that he would try to clarify things with Netanyahu.

U.S. media said that the incident cast a cloud over Netanyahu's Monday visit, during which he is expected to meet with Obama.

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 nuclear deal with Iran. Endit