Knesset delegation to Israel Day Parade, May 31, 2026. (Noam Moskowitz/ Office of the Knesset Spokesperson)
Mamdani is the first NYC mayor not to attend the Israel Day Parade since 1964.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Sunday accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “despicably fueling the flames of hatred in the city against Israel and its Jewish residents” as he led an expanded Israeli parliamentary delegation at the annual Israel Day Parade in New York.
Ohana, a member of Likud, attended the event alongside 13 lawmakers from both the coalition and opposition after Mamdani chose not to attend the parade, the first time a New York City Mayor has done so since 1964.
According to the Knesset, the decision by the mayor led Ohana to increase the size of the delegation and participate personally in order to “express complete and uncompromising unity in Israel’s strength against its enemies at home and abroad.”
Mamdani has expressed support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and has said that Israel should not continue to exist as a Jewish state.
“You will not intimidate us. The attempt to uproot our connection to this space through lies and violence will not succeed and will be met here and everywhere with a powerful, united Zionist fist,” Ohana said in a statement.
The Israeli delegation included MK Afif Abed of Likud, MK Meir Cohen of Yesh Atid and MK Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf of Otzma Yehudit also took part in the march.
Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kreuzer said the delegation joined supporters of Israel at the event.
“We were here with supporters of the State of Israel, holding our heads high and marching with Israeli flags with great pride,” Kreuzer said.
The annual Israel Day Parade is organized by the UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council. The event brings together Jewish participants and people of different faiths.
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