After controversy abates, Baratz to be named adviser to PM

Shlomo Cesana, israelhayom.com

Ran Baratz, who apologized for derogatory Facebook posts about President Reuven Rivlin and U.S. leaders that sparked an outcry in November, will soon take up a position as a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dr. Ran Baratz will soon take up a position as a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Baratz image from article

Baratz was originally appointed to serve as Netanyahu's chief media adviser and head of the Prime Minister's Office's Public Diplomacy section last November, but the move was delayed after controversy arose over derogatory Facebook posts Baratz had published about U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

Baratz later apologized for the divisive posts.

Netanyahu's office published a statement on Monday, saying, "Baratz has begun the hiring process here and will be appointed to a position of an advisor dealing with public diplomacy and not as head of the Public Diplomacy section."

An unnamed official involved in the matter said Netanyahu does not plan to appoint anyone as the head of the PMO's Public Diplomacy section.

Baratz declined to comment.

Baratz, a resident of Kfar Adumim, holds a doctorate in philosophy from Hebrew University. He completed his military service in an Israeli Air Force intelligence unit. Baratz founded the Mida news website and has been involved in recent years in setting up and managing training programs in a number of policy fields.