Smotrich’s surprise appearance at Israel Day Parade sparks backlash from NY and Jewish leaders
City and state leaders said Smotrich was not invited and condemned his participation after he joined the parade with an Israeli delegation.
- On Sunday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich joined the annual Israel Day Parade in New York City after flying in from Israel, despite not being invited by the organizers.
- As head of the Religious Zionist Party, Smotrich has been sanctioned by several countries for inciting settler violence and was not announced as part of the Israeli government's largest-ever delegation this year.
- Condemning the minister's inclusion, Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he was "offended" by a "vision of annihilation" that lacks value for the "sanctity of children in Gaza."
- Responding to the outcry on Monday, Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Mark Treyger wrote that participation is not an endorsement, noting some individuals were "neither invited by JCRC-NY nor known to us in advance."
- Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James joined other New York leaders in condemning Smotrich on Monday, while David Greenfield noted no public official marched alongside him.
14 Articles
14 Articles
CAIR in the News, June 2, 2026
CAIR-Chicago: Chicago high school faces outcry after axing Arabic program – Fox News CAIR: Maryland Teacher Can Sue Principal Over Palestinian Flag Display – Bloomberg Law CAIR: New York officials urged to apologize for marching in Israel Day parade joined by Bezalel Smotrich – TAG24 The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called on New York officials who marched in the parade to apologize. “Smotrich and other officials who attended this m…
The reverberations of the war in the Middle East and the performance of the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu reach Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The traditional parade that the Jewish community of New York conducts every year in support of Israel has been celebrated on this occasion marked by controversy. Both by presences and by absences. Continue reading
Smotrich's New York parade appearance sparks uproar as Mayor Mamdani condemns him
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told ynet he joined New York’s annual Israel parade to promote 'unity and connection' and dismissed criticism from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, but his participation drew swift condemnation as organizers claimed his visit was concealed from them, an allegation denied by an Israeli official
NY Governor, Attorney General Say Jewish State’s Finance Minister Unwelcome at Israel Parade
NEW YORK (JNS)- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Letitia James, attorney general of New York, decried the participation of the Jewish state’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, at the Israel Day on Fifth parade in New York City on May 31. Smotrich, who has been elected to the Knesset, is Jewish. Hochul and James are […]
NY governor, attorney general say Jewish state's finance minister unwelcome at Israel parade
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Letitia James, attorney general of New York, decried the participation of the Jewish state's finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, at the Israel Day on Fifth parade in New York City on May 31.Smotrich, who has been elected to the Knesset, is Jewish. Hochul and James are not."Bezalel Smotrich is a far-right extremist, whose hateful and divisive rhetoric is fundamentally at odds with the values we hold dear in New York…
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