A delegation of Israeli members of Knesset, galvanized by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pointed absence, joined the Israel Day Parade Sunday to show solidarity with Diaspora Jews.

The mayor said last week that he had made his views on the Israeli government “abundantly clear” and that he had promised during his election campaign to boycott the event. At a press conference regarding security for the event, the police commissioner of the New York Police Department, Jessica Tisch, was asked about Mamdani’s refusal to attend the parade.

“It’s the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly,” she said tersely.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also miffed by Mamdani’s snub, joined the parade and marched alongside Tisch. Former Mayor Eric Adams also participated.

Mamdani’s refusal to attend the parade comes at a time of heightened tension during a sharp spike in attacks against Jews, inspiring the MKs to band together to show support. The delegation of MKs is headed by Amir Ohana, a member of Likud and speaker of the Knesset.

Members of both the coalition and the opposition joined the group in what the Knesset said was the largest delegation of MKs to ever join the Israel Day Parade.

Ohana said the delegation serves as “an impressive show of strength and a direct message to the local leadership that is despicably fueling the fire of hatred in the city against Israel and its Jewish residents: You will not scare 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 and united Zionist fist.”

The delegation joined “with supporters of the State of Israel, holding our heads high and marching with Israeli flags with great pride,” said Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kreuzer.

“It is very important to come here and support the Jewish community, especially given the fact that for the first time in New York’s history, there is an anti-Israel mayor here,” said Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak.

Yesh Atid MK Merav Ben-Ari explained the importance of putting politics aside to show unity, explaining that she comes “first and foremost as a representative of the State of Israel.”

“We have political arguments among ourselves, and sometimes deep disagreements, but before the world, we have a shared responsibility to stand together, strengthen the connection with Diaspora Jewry, and show that Israel is the national home of the entire Jewish people,” she said.