City Council Member and the Council Jewish Caucus Chair Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest, Midwood) today gave some support towards his sometime adversary, embattled City Council Member Kalman Yeger (D-Borough Park, Flatbush, Bensonhurst, Midwood, Sunset Park.
Yeger, an Orthodox Jew, was recently involved in a brouhaha after a religious Muslim journalist goaded him into a Twitter war, and he Tweeted out, “Palestine Doesn’t exist.” This resulted in an outcry from Palestinian-Americans, Anti-Zionist Jews, protesters, counter-protesters and Speaker Corey Johnson removing Yeger from the Immigration Committee.
“Councilman Yeger has been involved in local politics since the 1990s, working to unite people from every ethnic background. His record of service speaks for itself,” said Deutsch.
Deutsch gave the remarks on Yeger following a meeting he organized between members of Brooklyn’s Jewish and Muslim community and faith leaders in Southern Brooklyn to emphasize their commitment to continue to work together in the future.
“Today’s meeting was a valuable opportunity for our two communities to unite to focus on the future, and what we can do together to benefit the many diverse New Yorkers we represent,” said Deutsch.
“International foreign policy differences do not need to have any impact on how we operate day to day as neighbors in Southern Brooklyn. The dialogue we had today was productive, respectful, and encouraging,” he added.
Yeger was not at the meeting, but a source said he was aware and supportive of the meeting.
