Report: Kerry may hire controversial diplomat for advisory post
Adam Kredo
The Washington Free Beacon
6/21/2013
An anti-Israel diplomat who was kicked off the 2008 Obama campaign after he was caught negotiating with the terror group Hamas is under consideration for a State Department advisory post, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
Robert Malley, a longtime government insider who worked for former President Bill Clinton and advised then-Sen. Barack Obama, is said to be on Kerry’s shortlist for deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, according to reports and sources. He currently serves as the Middle East director of the International Crisis Group (ICG).
If tapped for the job, Malley would be in charge of the Israel-Palestinian peace process, according to Al Monitor.
Another source familiar with the issue told the Washington Free Beacon that Malley has quietly been confirming that the Al-Monitor report is accurate.
Malley has a controversial anti-Israel history that includes chastising the Jewish state while negotiating with Hamas. He also has defended Hezbollah, as well as other violent and illiberal Middle East factions.
A State Department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
Malley’s most prominent misstep came in 2008 when he was fired from his post as an adviser to then-Sen. Obama after he entered into direct negotiations with Hamas…
…When Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2006, Malley said an opportunity had arrived finally to achieve peace….
The complete article is at The Washington Free Beacon.
