Ran Baratz, editor of a conservative news site, has mocked Israel’s president, talked of ‘antisemitic western liberal nations’ and supported Jewish extremists

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has come under fire for nominating a new spokesman, who has in the past derided Israel’s president, made sniping remarks about US leaders and voiced support for Jewish extremists.

The nomination of Ran Baratz, the founding editor of a conservative news site, sparked an uproar in Israel on Thursday. Netanyahu said he had been unaware of the comments.

Baratz recently said on his Facebook page that the response of Barack Obama to the Israeli prime minister’s speech to the US Congress this year was an example of “modern antisemitism in liberal western states”.



Netanyahu’s speech marked a low point in relations between the two leaders. Obama skipped the speech, which sought to persuade US lawmakers to vote against a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Between the lines of Binyamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress Read more

Baratz, 42, has also taken jabs at the US secretary of state, John Kerry, saying he should seek out a job as a standup comedian, insinuating his speeches are laughable.

In a 2004 column, Baratz, who lives in a West Bank settlement, voiced support for extremists pushing for a greater Jewish presence at a Jerusalem holy site.

Israel is in the middle of a wave of violence, withPalestinians claiming Israel is plotting to take over the holy site. Israel denies the allegations.

Much of the furore has centred on a Facebook post Baratz made about Israel’s largely ceremonial but widely respected president, Reuven Rivlin. He poked fun at Rivlin’s penchant for flying economy on official trips, saying the president is able to do so from a security standpoint because he is a “marginal figure”.

Rivlin’s office said it asked the prime minister’s office for clarifications. Baratz’s comments triggered anger among some Israelis.

“This is the man the prime minister chose to be my mouthpiece, all of our mouthpieces, to talk to the world in our names. This man, with his words dripping with poison, his mouth is our mouth now,” wrote satirist Mika Almog in the Yediot Ahronoth daily.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office called the posts inappropriate, saying Baratz would show restraint once in public office.

If the cabinet approves the nomination, Baratz will serve as spokesman to Israeli media and become a close adviser. Another Netanyahu spokesman deals with foreign press.