New York Mayor Mamdani boycotts Israel parade – sharp criticism from Israel

International criticism of Mamdani's boycott

Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon stated that the mayor had decided to "turn his back on tens of thousands of Jews and supporters of Israel."

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called Mamdani's decision "cowardly" in a post on X. He wrote: "Leadership means being there for all New Yorkers, including the Jews who call this city home."

Bennett also emphasized that the parade does not celebrate the Israeli government, but Israel as the "homeland of the Jewish people, the only Jewish state in the world, and a source of pride, refuge, and belonging for millions of Jews."

Mamdani's stance and the city's reaction

Mamdani himself stated that he had already said during his election campaign that he would not participate in the parade. He literally said: "I already said during the election campaign that I will not participate in the parade. And I have made my views on the Israeli government very clear."

New York City is home to approximately one million Jewish residents, making it the largest Jewish urban population in the world outside of Israel.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the largest police presence in the event's history, given the current political situation in the Middle East and the rise in antisemitism.

Mamdani's decision marks a clear break with the tradition of his predecessors, who regularly attended the parade. The boycott underscores the growing political divide within the Democratic Party regarding the Middle East conflict.