Democrats split on Israel parade as Mamdani keeps promise to skip event | New York
As they have done for decades, prominent members of the Democratic party establishment marched in the annual Israel Day parade in New York City on Sunday. But perhaps more notable was who was missing.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, refused to participateHe claims to be against the Israeli government, which he accuses of committing genocide in Gaza.
“I said on the campaign trail that I would not attend the parade and made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear,” Mamdani told reporters last week, stressing that public safety was paramount and promising a strong police presence.
Mamdani is believed to be the first mayor to miss the parade since it began in 1964. Brad Lander, a Jewish politician and former New York comptroller, is currently running for Congress, and progressive groups such as Israelis for Peace and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) have also stayed away.
JFREJ sent On
Their stance contrasted with city police commissioner Jessica Tisch, who attended the event. He said: “It is the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly.”
Other Democrats in attendance included New York senator Chuck Schumer; Representatives Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, Governor Kathy Hochul; Attorney General Letitia James; former mayors Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg; and former governor Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani’s absence angered some pro-Israel leaders who have consistently opposed his leadership because of his criticism of Israel. Jonathan Greenblatt, president of the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League. He wrote in the Times of Israel: “His absence was not the result of some kind of scheduling conflict. It was an ideological and shameful claim.”
New York Post newspaper, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, I posted the front page photo A photo of Mamdani riding a bike with the headline: “Cycle of hate. Zo rejects Israeli parade, rides bike instead.”
However, the mayor’s defenders noted that the parade was also attended by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a leading figure of the country’s nationalist right who loudly supports the ethnic cleansing of Israel’s occupied Palestinian territories. It was Smotrich’s first trip to the United States since March last year and came about two weeks after the international criminal court said it was seeking an arrest warrant for him.
The minister’s presence put the Democrats in a difficult situation. Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor under Barack Obama Published on X: “Why is it discussed that Zohran skipped the parade of his own principles, but why is it not discussed that Democratic politicians marched with a fascist bigot like Smotrich?”
On Monday, Hochul moved to distance himself from Smotrich. write to x that he is “a far-right extremist whose hateful and divisive rhetoric is fundamentally at odds with the values we hold dear in New York. Yesterday’s parade was a celebration of Jewish pride, community and unity. I strongly condemn his participation.”
James added: “Islamophobia has no place in New York. I unequivocally condemn Bezalel Smotrich’s hateful rhetoric.”
The parade came weeks after the city of New York issued a proclamation. video It commemorates the Nakba, which means “catastrophe” and is the Arabic term used by Palestinians to describe the displacement of an estimated 700,000 people during the 1948 war surrounding the founding of Israel.
The video featured Inea Bushnaq, who recalled being forcibly removed from her home as a nine-year-old child and spoke of a lifelong sense of exile. He said: “I’ve lived in different places and I’ve always been a foreigner.”
Supporters of Israel accused the town hall of presenting a one-sided narrative of history and argued that any official commemoration should also take into account the experiences of Jewish refugees and the broader context of the conflict.
The disputes underscore the changing politics of a city that is home to the largest Jewish population in the United States. Previous mayors often positioned themselves as staunch supporters of Israel and frequently traveled to the country.
However, public attitudes have changed sharply in recent years, especially as criticism of Israel’s military action in Gaza has increased. A. Pew Research’s researchThe report, released in April, found that six in 10 Americans have a very or somewhat unfavorable view of Israel; This is an increase of seven percentage points from last year and an increase of nearly 20 points since 2022.
Mamdani has emerged as one of the most prominent elected officials to reflect this shift, maintaining a strong pro-Palestinian stance while also insisting that he supports Israel’s right to exist as a state that guarantees equal rights. Mayor vows to carry out ICC order Arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuIf he visits New York.
