Thousands gathered in New York City on Sunday for the yearly Israel Day Parade, where political leaders and Jewish community members showed their support under the banner “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.”
The speakers included Rep. Dan Goldman, Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Rep. Mike Lawler and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“The Jewish people have yearned for a state of Israel, whilst experiencing the constant anxiety of knowing the place where they live could violently expel them at any moment, as happened again and again,” Schumer said. “We cannot, we must not go back to that era. I believe in the State of Israel. I support the State of Israel.”
In a historic first for the 61-year-old event, a Muslim delegation participated in the march. Anila Ali, board chair of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, headed the group that walked with Jewish organizations despite facing online criticism and threats.
Israel’s Knesset sent multiple representatives to the parade, including 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 participated in the march.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana strongly condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his absence from the event, citing previous anti-Israel remarks Mamdani had made.
Ohana charged Mamdani with “despicably fueling the flames of hatred in the city against Israel and its Jewish residents.”
“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.
The Knesset reported that due to Mamdani’s absence, Ohana decided to increase the delegation size and attend personally to “express complete and uncompromising unity in Israel’s strength against its enemies at home and abroad.”
Mamdani represents the first New York City mayor to miss the Israel Day Parade since 1964.
The UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council organize the annual parade.
