Secretary of State John Kerry. Photo: US Senate.

JNS.org – Secretary of State John Kerry is reportedly considering diplomat Robert Malley, who was dismissed from President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign when it was revealed that he met with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

It is unclear if Malley, formerly a Middle East advisor for President Bill Clinton and currently Middle East director of the International Crisis Group, would focus on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process if appointed by Kerry, Al-Monitor reported.

Regarding the fact that he met with Hamas, Malley told The Times of London in 2008, “I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people.”

Malley has also criticized Israel regarding its 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“A war Israel fought without a clearly defined purpose has left the country without any tangible achievement,” Malley wrote forThe New York Review of Books.

The potential appointment of Malley “certainly raises eyebrows—not about Malley, but about Kerry,” an unnamed source told the Washington Free Beacon.

“It is surprising that Kerry would pick such a high-profile choice who has been involved in so many controversies,” the source said.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from JNS.org on reports of Malley’s potential appointment.