New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Skips Israel Day Parade, Breaks 62-Year-Old Tradition

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Skips Israel Day Parade, Breaks 62-Year-Old Tradition Published By, Last Updated: June 01, 2026, 19:14 IST New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani skips Israel Day parade for first time in 62 years, citing criticism of Israeli government, drawing backlash from Jewish leaders. People march in front of the Trump Tower during the "Israel Day on Fifth" parade, in New York City, on Sunday. (Image: Reuters) For the first time in 62 years, New York City Mayor has skipped the annual parade honouring Israel. The reason: Zohran Mamdani’s support of Palestinian rights. The Israel Day parade celebrating the birth of the Jewish state in 1948, organised in New York’s Fifth Avenue, has always been a must attend for mayors, governor and political leaders wanting to gain support of Jews. According to Associated Press, two weeks ago the mayor’s office released a video commemorating the Nakba, an Arabic word for “catastrophe" that is used to describe the displacement of an estimated 700,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war that followed Israel’s establishment. Governor Kathy Hochul marched proudly today in the Israel Day Parade in NYC, celebrating New York’s vibrant Jewish community and declaring on????: “Our bond with the Israeli people will never be broken. Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱"Meanwhile, Mayor Mamdani was nowhere to be found —… pic.twitter.com/u3EfV7JlOz — Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 31, 2026 “I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn’t be attending the parade, and I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear," Mamdani said at a news conference on Thursday. AP quoted Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, saying that he believes Israel has a right to exist but not as a hierarchy that favors Jewish citizen. Thousands of Jews and non Jews attended ‘The Israel Parade Day" in New York with the highest participation ever💙🇮🇱🙏“Keeping backstabbers out of our life is an art" Thank you for not attending, you turned us all into artists!!#AmYisraelChai pic.twitter.com/6RSSS0s4J2 — Zoe Ariella 🇮🇱✡️🎗️🧡 (@ZoeAriella_) May 31, 2026 He, however, assured a police presence o make sure it went off “seamlessly and peacefully". Meanwhile, city’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, did attend the parade. In response, she said: “It is the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly". However, the mayor choosing not to attend the event was slammed. According to Associated Press, Rabbi Marc Schneier, founding senior rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue on Long Island and president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, called Mamdani’s decision to not attend the parade “a slap in the face to all Jewish New Yorkers". News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: June 01, 2026, 19:14 IST News world New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Skips Israel Day Parade, Breaks 62-Year-Old Tradition Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...