Former Netanyahu aide joins Carson camp

By Al Weaver, Al Weaver

Published December 20, 2015

Ben Carson's campaign announced Tuesday the addition of George Birnbaum, former chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as a foreign policy adviser.

Birnbaum will "work with Dr. Carson to present bold strategies to bolster America's presence in the world and confront the challenges facing the country in 2016 and beyond," according to a release.

The addition of the former Netanyahu aide follows a string of foreign policy blunders by the former neurosurgeon, who has recently fallen from his perch alongside Donald Trump atop the GOP field. Most recently, Carson gave a widely panned speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition last Thursday, during which he mispronounced "Hamas" multiple times.

"It is with pride and excitement that I join the Ben Carson for President 2016 team," Birnbaum said in the statement. "Having worked with several Israeli prime ministers, I have seen firsthand how important the U.S.-Israel relationship is. Fundamental to that relationship is the President of the United States.