Councilman Yeger under fire following tweet saying that Palestine 'does not exist'

A Brooklyn councilman faces heavy criticism after a controversial tweet.

News 12 Staff

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Mar 27, 2019, 10:00 PM

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Updated 2,237 days ago

Councilman Yeger under fire following tweet saying that Palestine 'does not exist'

A Brooklyn councilman faces heavy criticism after a controversial tweet.

Councilman Kalman Yeger tweeted that Palestine does not exist and claimed Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota is an anti-Semite.

Backlash poured in, with activist Shaun King replying to the tweet by saying, "If anybody said anything remotely similar about any other nation or people they'd be immediately ostracized. Disgusting."

Other Twitter users called for the councilman's resignation.

Mayor Bill de Blasio weighed in, tweeting that, "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."

Several people in Yeger's district supported the councilman's comments off-camera.

It's unclear whether Yeger was referring to Palestine as a state, geographic area or people. More than 130 countries recognize Palestine as state, but the United States does not.

It does not appear that the councilman is backing down as he has been combatively replying to his critics.

News 12 reached out to Yeger's office for comment but has not heard back.