Goshen – An eight-page conference summary just released by the county Human Rights Commission fails to mention that the Chasidic community of Kiryas Yoel and its neighbors have been fighting for almost two years over the village’s potential expansion and its plans for a 13-mile water pipeline. Not a word about the resulting accusations and denials of anti-Semitism or anti-Hasidic bigotry.
The county lawmaker who represents Kiryas Joel, unloaded last week when the report was presented to a legislative committee. “We have, obviously, major issues regarding the relationship” between Kiryas Yoel and neighboring towns, he said. “And I was surprised to see that no one was on the advisory committee from Kiryas Yoel, nor was any of the panelists.” But a vice-chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission, replied: “We very intentionally, actually, did not include them on the panel for the fear that it would become the only issue discussed.
He also said that the County Executive office eventually invited Ari Felberman, Kiryas Joel’s government relations coordinator, to serve on a panel, but that he declined because the summit was being held the day before a Kiryas Joel election.
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