New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced he will not participate in the annual parade celebrating Israel, a departure from the tradition upheld by previous mayors. His decision is rooted in his support for Palestinian rights, which he made clear during his campaign.

The Israel Day parade, a longstanding event on Fifth Avenue, celebrates the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. While Mayor Mamdani will not attend, he has assured the public of a significant police presence to ensure the event proceeds safely and peacefully. “While I will not be attending, our administration has been preparing for weeks to ensure the parade is safe for all those who take part,” Mamdani stated.

New York City’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, has confirmed her attendance at the parade. “It is the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly,” she said.

Mamdani’s absence has sparked criticism from some Jewish leaders. Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, described the mayor’s decision as “a slap in the face to all Jewish New Yorkers.” He also criticized a video released by Mamdani’s office commemorating the Nakba, which some Jewish leaders have labeled as “propaganda” for lacking context on Jewish displacement.

The mayor, who is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, has consistently expressed his pro-Palestinian stance. He acknowledges Israel’s right to exist but opposes a system that he perceives as favoring Jewish citizens over others. Despite his stance, Mamdani has pledged to protect Jewish New Yorkers and emphasized the efforts of the city’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

Support for Israel among Americans has seen a decline in recent years, influenced by controversies surrounding Israeli military actions. Mamdani’s position reflects this broader trend, although it remains a contentious issue in a city with the largest Jewish population in the United States.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.