Far Right Israeli Leaders Join New York Democrats in NYC’s Israel Day Parade |
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On Sunday, thousands attended New York City’s annual Israel Day Parade, including New York politicians and far right members of the Israeli government. The theme of this year’s parade was “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.”
The parade comes as the U.S. and Israel wage a joint war on Iran and following more than two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani did not attend the event, making him likely the first New York City mayor to skip the parade since it was founded in 1965.
“I have made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear,” Mamdani said at a news conference on Thursday. Later in his remarks, he announced that it would be the most heavily policed Israel Day parade yet.
The parade was attended by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. In the lead-up to the event, Tisch described the parade as “one of the most joyful days of the year.”
Also participating in the parade were State Attorney General Letitia James and former New York City mayors Michael Bloomberg and Eric Adams. As mayor, Adams – who has visited Israel multiple times and spoken of an “unbreakable bond” between New York City and Israel — signed an executive order prohibiting city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel, or participating in the........