Without referencing him by name, US Vice President Joe Biden took a swipe Saturday night at Israel's new Head of Public Diplomacy, Dr. Ran Baratz, over his past comments against President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.
Biden was quick to stress America's “rock-solid” commitment to Israeli security at the start of his 45-minute address before the Union for Reform Judaism's biennial in Orlando, Florida.
Then, in sharp condemnation of Baratz, Biden noted that "although we won’t always agree, and this is the one thing I do want to say - We should always be respectful of one another."
“There is no excuse, there should be no tolerance for any member or employee of the Israeli administration referring to the president of United States in derogatory terms. Period, period, period, period!"
"There is no justification for an official Israeli voice degrading the secretary of state, who has worked so hard, for so long for the security of Israel," Biden continued.
"But notwithstanding even those terrible comments, no one, no one, no one can undermine our relationship or long term security and future of the Jewish and democratic State of Israel.”
While Baratz has apologized for his controversial remarks, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is reportedly reconsidering the appointment in light of widespread dissent over the choice.