Politics & Government

Turner: Obama Should Apologize To Israeli Prime Minister

Congressman dings Obama for remarks about Netanyahu.

U.S. Rep. Bob Turner, R-Forest Hills, has been in office for just two months, but he’s certainly kept busy, and is never shy about letting his true feelings for President Obama show.

When last week’s October jobs report was released, indicating that the nationwide jobless rate fell to 9 percent event, Turner criticized the president and the Senate for acting too slowly to help unemployed Americans. 

The current jobs effort, he said, is not working. “The taxing, regulating and stimulus package approach that has been taken over the last 3 years continues to come up empty,” Turner said.

Find out what's happening in Forest Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Tuesday, Turner took on a recent controversy over remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Obama.

Multiple news outlets have reported that during a G20 summit in Cannes, France, Sarkozy said to Obama, through a translator, that he couldn’t “stand to see [Netanyahu] anymore, he’s a liar.”

Find out what's happening in Forest Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Several French outlets, picked up by media across the Atlantic, said that Obama’s translated response was, roughly: “You are fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day.”

While the two thought their conversation was private, the brief exchange has caused what can only be described as a diplomatic kerfuffle, and Forest Hills’ newest legislator didn’t miss the opportunity to put the president’s feet to the fire.

Turner, in a statement, said he was shocked by the comments. “President Obama should immediately apologize to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Though his comment was intended to be private, it could be dangerously misconstrued as a lack of support from an American President to the nation of Israel,” Turner said. 

During his election campaign, Turner repeatedly criticized the president for his relationship with Israel.

“These are dangerous times in the Mid-East, and we cannot allow Israel's enemies to believe there is a crack of light between our relationship,” Turner continued. “This is the time to make clear that America stands resolutely beside her ally." 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Forest Hills