City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito stepped into a Middle East minefield by referring to East Jerusalem as part of “Palestine” — drawing condemnation from supporters of Israel.
Mark-Viverito, in a July 2 tweet, deplored the killing of a Palestinian teen on the outskirts of East Jerusalem.
“Saddened by the escalating violence in Palestine. We mourn the loss of life and call for an end to this cycle of violence,” she wrote.
But New York backers of the Jewish state slammed Mark-Viverito.
“It’s not surprising that the speaker would talk in the language of the Pro-Palestinian far left that is led by fellow Democrats, President Obama and Secretary [of State John] Kerry,” said Bruce Blakeman, vice president of the American Jewish Congress and a GOP House candidate from Long Island.
Mark-Viverito’s camp defended her remark.
“Her only intention was to lament the violence that recently claimed the lives of a young Palestinian in Jerusalem earlier this week and three Israeli boys last month,” said spokesman Eric Koch.