State Dept. Spokesperson: Israel Defense Minister Comments Inappropriate, Offensive

The United States on Tuesday rebuked Israel for comments attributed to Israel's defense minister suggesting that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's quest for Israeli-Palestinian peace is messianic and obsessive.

"The remarks of the Defense Minister (Moshe Yaalon) if accurate are offensive and inappropriate especially given all that the United States is doing to support Israel's security needs," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a brief statement that constituted a rare rebuke to close ally Israel.

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