NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A Queens resident whom Queens Borough President Donovan Richards appointed as one of two deputy borough presidents on Sunday has stepped down after facing criticism over past tweets that criticized Israel, according to a report.
Michael Hurwitz "stepped aside Monday afternoon after some observers began to share a handful of his tweets denouncing Israeli settlements, an Israeli political leader and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee," the Queens Daily Eagle reported.
"For professional and personal reasons, Michael Hurwitz will not be moving forward at this time with the Queens Borough President's Office as Deputy Borough President as originally announced," Richards spokesperson, Breeana Mulligan, told the outlet.
In one tweet, Hurwitz wrote: "#IlanOmar (sic) speaks the truth, that AIPAC $$$ influences votes in Cngrss-nuthn 2debate-why I support J st and others promoting a progressive view, condemning settlements and racism but loving the core values. Took no time to apologize and sit with Jews to discuss pain caused."
Hurwitz also described right-wing Israeli politician Natali Bennett as a "cancer to Judaism," according to the outlet.
In an interview with the Eagle, Hurwitz said he was a "proud Jew," adding that he was a "lifelong Zionist."
"I love the state of Israel and I love that I'm raising my children Jewish in Queens," he said, but maintained Twitter wasn't the right platform on which to discuss issues related to the country.
"This is one of the most complex issues out there," he told the outlet. "To try to put it into 250 characters or less was naive."
