Smotrich’s Surprise Appearance at New York City’s Israel Day Parade

On June 2, 2026, New York City’s Israel Day Parade attracted thousands. Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, attended his first U.S. visit in over a year, joining a large Knesset delegation. Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined to march; many Democratic officials did.

TruthOutThe GuardianMamdani skips Israel Parade as Democrats split over Smotrich attendance — MogazSmotrich’s surprise appearance at Israel Day Parade sparks backlash from NY and Jewish leadersThe Guardian

The parade, themed “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists,” celebrates Jewish pride amid the Israel-Hamas war and a joint U.S.–Israel campaign against Iran. Smotrich, a leading settler-movement figure, has called for West Bank annexation, ethnic cleansing of Palestinian villages, and Gaza’s destruction, and faces sanctions from several Western nations for inciting violence.

TruthOutSmotrich’s surprise appearance at Israel Day Parade sparks backlash from NY and Jewish leadersThe GuardianThe Guardian

Parade participants included Sen. Chuck Schumer, Reps. Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul, AG Letitia James, former mayors Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg, and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. JCRC-NY, led by Mark Treyger, organized the event. Israeli officials also comprised Ministers Ofir Sofer, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Amichai Eliyahu, and Otzma Yehudit members.

The Guardian

Gov. Hochul called Smotrich a “far-right extremist.” AG James labeled his rhetoric Islamophobic. Schumer’s office reiterated longstanding opposition to Smotrich’s extremism. Rep. Goldman said he marched to celebrate Israel, not its government, and expressed disappointment. Mayor Mamdani, absent, described the ministers’ presence as “offensive” and a “vision of annihilation.”

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Former ambassador Dan Shapiro said Smotrich “crashed” the parade and harms U.S.–Israel relations. J Street urged sanctions and opposed his marching. New York Jewish Agenda called his participation “shocking” and linked it to settlement-driven violence. Jews for Racial and Economic Justice labeled officials marching with him as complicit in genocide.

Smotrich’s surprise appearance at Israel Day Parade sparks backlash from NY and Jewish leaders

JCRC-NY chief Mark Treyger said the council learned of Smotrich’s attendance only near the parade’s end, citing a “complete lack of transparency.” The Israeli consulate did not comment. Sources differ on whether Smotrich was formally invited, with some describing his arrival as a “crash” arranged by the consulate.

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The episode is shaping the Democratic primary for New York’s 10th congressional district, where Rep. Goldman faces challenger Brad Lander, with Israel policy a central issue. Mayor Mamdani has pledged to arrest PM Netanyahu if he visits New York under an ICC warrant. Community groups call for clearer rules on foreign political participation in future parades.

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• “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,” — Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York

The Guardian

• “Islamophobia has no place in New York. I unequivocally condemn Bezalel Smotrich’s hateful rhetoric.” — Letitia James, Attorney General of New York

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• “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” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

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• “not invited to the Israel Day Parade in New York” — Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel

The Guardian