Politics & Government
Kensington Rep Condemned For 'Palestine Does Not Exist' Tweet
Brooklyn councilman Kalman Yeger's tweet drew criticism from the Mayor, City Speaker Corey Johnson and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- Brooklyn city councilman Kalman Yeger sparked outrage among his City Hall colleagues Wednesday when he denied Palestine's existence and accused Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar of anti-Semitism on Twitter.
Yeger, a Democrat who represents central Brooklyn's District 44, posted the controversial Tweet Wednesday during an online discussion with Bklyner reporter Zainab Iqbal.
"Palestine does not exist," wrote Yeger, whom Bkylner reported has expressed such sentiments online before. "Congresswoman Omar is an antisemite [sic]. Thanks for following me."
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Palestine does not exist. There, I said it again. Also, Congresswoman Omar is an antisemite. Said that too. Thanks for following me. https://t.co/apM565HoEV
— Kalman Yeger (@KalmanYeger) March 27, 2019
Iqbal garnered this response from Yeger by retweeting his message to Omar, whom he accused of anti-Semitism for her recent comments about the Israel lobby's influence on American policymakers.
"This is the same council member who has repeatedly said that palestine does not exist," Iqbal responded, "and refers to them as ‘so-called palestinians.’”
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Yeger, who did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment, has since been chastised by Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council speaker Corey Johnson and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
A two-state solution is the best hope for peace. I challenge anyone who thinks the State of Israel shouldn’t exist. But the same goes for anyone who would deny Palestinians a home. https://t.co/3JvnS4UOhm
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 27, 2019
"Comments like these do nothing to help advance the dialogue needed to foster a peaceful solution," Johnson stated. "Which is something we should all be working towards."
"Yeger's comments are painful," Williams tweeted. "To discount & dismiss an entire group of ppl [sic] is completely destructive & not something an elected official in the world's most diverse city should spout."
Palestinian-American Linda Sarsour activist called on Yeger to be removed from council's Immigration Committee in an interview with the Brooklyn Eagle.
“I am Palestinian. I exist and so does my community," Sarsour reportedly said. “It’s disgraceful, irresponsible and dangerous for a sitting NYC council member to engage in blatant bigotry and erasure."
As of August 2018, 137 United Nations members have recognized the existence of Palestine. The United States is not among them.
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