Mamdani breaks with the Jewish community in New York.Image: keystone
May 31, 2026, 7:42 p.mMay 31, 2026, 7:42 p.m
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani became the first mayor in decades to boycott the annual Israel parade in the metropolis, drawing sharp criticism. The mayor has decided to “turn his back on tens of thousands of Jews and supporters of Israel,” said Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, in New York. Thousands of supporters marched through the streets of Manhattan at midday (US local time) with Israeli flags, blue and white balloons and T-shirts with the inscription “I love Israel”.
“I already said during the election campaign that I would not take part in the parade. And I made my views on the Israeli government very clear,” said Mamdani, explaining his decision.
New York City is home to around one million Jewish residents, making it the largest Jewish urban population in the world outside of Israel. The parade has typically been held annually since the 1960s.
Naftali Bennett called Mamdani “cowardly”
The US Democrat Mamdani is one of the most prominent pro-Palestinian politicians in the USA. He accuses Israel of systematically violating the rights of Palestinians, speaks of apartheid and describes Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip as “genocide.” He condemned the attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7, 2023 as a “horrific war crime” and repeatedly said that he was committed to equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called Mamdani’s decision “cowardly” in a post on X. “Leadership means being there for all New Yorkers, including the Jews who call this city home.” The parade does not celebrate the Israeli government, but rather Israel as the “homeland of the Jewish people, the only Jewish state in the world, and a source of pride, refuge and a sense of belonging for millions of Jews,” Bennett wrote.
Citing the current political situation in the Middle East and increased anti-Semitism, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the largest police presence in the history of the event. (sda/dpa)