NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)-Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday defended his decision to boycott the Israel Day Parade, breaking a longstanding tradition and drawing sharp criticism for prioritizing his personal political views over the city’s historic ties to the Jewish community.

Mamdani, who has faced accusations of anti-Israel activism throughout his rise to power, became the first New York City mayor to skip the annual event since 1964. The parade, a major celebration of Israeli culture and U.S.-Israel relations, typically draws tens of thousands and has long served as a key show of solidarity with the Jewish community, the largest outside Israel.

In remarks that highlighteded his strained relationship with pro-Israel New Yorkers, Mamdani pointed to campaign promises as justification for his absence.

“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,” he said.

The mayor then attempted to frame his no-show as a matter of public safety, claiming his presence could somehow endanger residents — a rationale critics dismissed as evasive and politically motivated.

“And I also said on that same campaign that I would have a responsibility as the mayor of the city to ensure the safety and security of each and every New Yorker,” Mamdani added. “And I don’t believe that my presence as the mayor should determine whether or not a New Yorker is safe or secure.”

The comments fueled accusations that Mamdani is more interested in appeasing progressive activists than fulfilling the unifying role expected of the city’s chief executive. Jewish leaders and pro-Israel groups have long expressed concern over his past statements on Israel, viewing his boycott as yet another signal of hostility toward the Jewish state at a time of heightened global antisemitism.

Mamdani’s decision comes amid ongoing tensions following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war, which have deeply divided New Yorkers. By skipping the parade, the Mayor has further alienated a key constituency in a city where support for Israel has historically crossed party lines.