A delegation of 13 MKs from each the coalition and the opposition participated in New York’s annual Israel Day Parade on Sunday as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani boycotted the occasion.
Mamdani was the primary New York mayor to not attend the parade since 1964. Final week, Mamdani mentioned he had made clear throughout his election marketing campaign that he wouldn’t attend the parade, including that his views on the Israeli authorities have been “abundantly clear.”
The delegation of MKs who joined the parade was led by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud).
Mamdani’s boycott got here in opposition to the backdrop of a pointy rise in antisemitic incidents in New York and pushed Ohana to guide the delegation and triple the standard variety of MKs who attended.
They waved Israeli flags alongside Fifth Avenue and have been a part of the most important Israel solidarity parade ever held in New York Metropolis, breaking the all-time file for participation, the Knesset acknowledged.
Ohana mentioned that the delegation was “a formidable present of power and a direct message to the native management that’s despicably fueling the fireplace of hatred within the metropolis in opposition to Israel and its Jewish residents: You’ll not scare us. The try to uproot our connection to this area by way of lies and violence is not going to succeed, and will likely be met right here and in all places with a robust and united Zionist fist.”
Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kreuzer mentioned the Knesset delegation was there “with supporters of the State of Israel, holding our heads excessive and marching with Israeli flags with nice pleasure.”
Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak mentioned: “It is rather necessary to come back right here and assist the Jewish group, particularly given the truth that for the primary time in New York’s historical past, there may be an anti-Israel mayor right here.”
The annual parade is organized by the UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Neighborhood Relations Council. It brings collectively Jews and folks of all faiths.
Opposition and coalition put disagreements apart
Opposition coordinator MK Merav Ben-Ari (Yesh Atid) mentioned that she was becoming a member of the solidarity parade in New York as a member of the opposition, “however at the beginning as a consultant of the State of Israel.”
“We’ve political arguments amongst ourselves, and generally deep disagreements, however earlier than the world, we’ve got a shared accountability to face collectively, strengthen the reference to Diaspora Jewry, and present that Israel is the nationwide house of the whole Jewish individuals,” she added.
“Particularly in days like these, our presence right here is extra necessary than ever. Notably when the mayor of New York determined to not march this yr, in contrast to in earlier years, we should ship an necessary message from right here that assist for Israel comes at the beginning.”
No MKs from the left-wing Democrats get together or the Knesset’s Arab events – Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am – have been a part of the delegation.
The lawmakers are anticipated to fly again to Israel after the parade and return by Monday, forward of the upcoming Knesset dissolution vote.
Forward of the march, Kreuzer criticized Mamdani whereas visiting the Floor Zero website the place the Twin Towers fell on 9/11 in 2001.
“We should not grant legitimacy to terrorism or to those that justify it,” he mentioned. “Those that assist rapists and murderers in Gaza will convey terror to the streets of New York.”
“I arrived in New York on the World Commerce Middle, the place the tragedy of September 11, 2001, came about,” Kreuzer mentioned.
“1 / 4 of a century has handed, and actuality has not modified. The message from right here is evident and unequivocal: Terrorism have to be defeated and eradicated, in any other case its supporters change into the mayor of New York and members of the Knesset.”
Mamdani’s absence from the parade mirrored a harmful development of granting legitimacy to extremists and people in opposition to Israel, he mentioned.
The teachings of the 9/11 assaults and the October 7 bloodbath have been the identical, Kreuzer mentioned.
“This yr’s Israeli delegation is bigger than ever and carries a transparent message: We is not going to bow our heads within the face of antisemitism,” he mentioned.
