[Video below.] New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sharply criticized the participation of several Israeli government ministers in Sunday’s Israel Day Parade, singling out Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and saying their presence at the event was offensive to many New Yorkers.

Speaking during an interview on MSNOW, Mamdani, who chose not to attend the annual parade, reiterated his longstanding criticism of the Israeli government and condemned the involvement of several members of its current coalition.

“I’ve made clear time and time again over the course of the campaign my criticisms of the Israeli government. And you can see in the participation of the far-right Israeli minister Smotrich, as well as a number of other ministers, a vision of annihilation, a complicity in genocide, and frankly, a belief that does not have much value for even the sanctity of children in Gaza. And I am offended, as I know many New Yorkers are, by their participation.”

Asked about members of his administration who did attend the parade, Mamdani emphasized that individual officials are free to decide for themselves which public events they wish to join.

“I allow them to make their own decisions as to what marches they would like to participate in.”

The mayor also defended his absence from the event while stressing his administration’s commitment to protecting New York’s Jewish community.

“As I’ve said time and time again, as the mayor of this city, I need not be present to ensure the security of a march, and also that this is a march to celebrate Israel. That is something that many New Yorkers attended, many New Yorkers did not. When it comes to the sanctity and the security of Jewish life in this city, that is something that we are fully committed to – to ensuring that each and every Jewish New Yorker is not just safe in this city, but is celebrated.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who participated in the parade, also criticized Smotrich’s attendance and issued a statement condemning his appearance at the event.

“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,” Hochul said in a statement. “Yesterday’s parade was a celebration of Jewish pride, community, and unity. I strongly condemn his participation.”

Mamdani’s decision to stay away from the parade marks the latest chapter in a series of actions and statements that have drawn criticism from pro-Israel groups and supporters of the Jewish state.

During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani declined to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada.” He also faced criticism for comments he made about Israel on October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

Throughout the war in Gaza, Mamdani has repeatedly accused Israel of committing war crimes and has stated that he would seek the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City.

Controversy also erupted shortly after Mamdani entered office when he rescinded several executive orders related to Israel that had been enacted by his predecessor, Eric Adams.

Among the orders revoked was a June 2025 directive recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

Another canceled order barred mayoral appointees and city agency employees from participating in boycotts of or divestment efforts targeting Israel.

Mamdani has also faced scrutiny over a number of antisemitism-related controversies since taking office. Most recently, reports surfaced indicating that his wife, Rama Dawaji, had liked several social media posts that praised or appeared sympathetic to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist massacre in Israel.

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{Matzav.com}