Pro-Israel New York Leaders Condemn MK Bezalel Smotrich After Parade Appearance

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, head of the right-wing Religious Zionism party and one of the most prominent nationalist ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, drew sharp criticism after making an unannounced appearance at New York’s Israel Day Parade on Sunday. His participation was quickly became the center of the post-parade backlash, including from several city and state leaders who had otherwise supported the pro-Israel march. 

The backlash came from some of the same New York officials who attended the parade, praised its message of Jewish pride and criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani for staying away. 

Mamdani, who skipped the parade, said afterward that he was “offended” by Smotrich’s participation and by the presence of other Israeli ministers.

“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,” Mamdani said. “I am offended, as I know many New Yorkers are, by their participation.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who attended the parade and marched at the head of the event, also condemned Smotrich’s participation.

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

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who also appeared at the parade, issued her own criticism Monday.

“Islamophobia has no place in New York. I unequivocally condemn Bezalel Smotrich’s hateful rhetoric,” James said.

Left-leaning Jewish organizations also joined the criticism. J Street, a liberal pro-Israel lobbying group, said Smotrich should be “sanctioned by American political and Jewish communal leaders – not marching alongside them in the streets of New York City,” while New York Jewish Agenda, a progressive Jewish advocacy group, said it was “shocking” to see New York officials march alongside Smotrich and other right-wing Israeli officials.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which organizes the parade, appeared to refer to Smotrich’s participation when it said some individuals who attended were not invited by the organization or known to it in advance.

“While some individuals who attended were neither invited by JCRC-NY nor known to us in advance, participation in the parade is not an endorsement of any political figure or ideology,” JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger said.

Smotrich was not included in advance lists of Israeli officials expected to attend. Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, who also participated, was also not listed beforehand. The Israeli delegation was led by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and included ministers and lawmakers from both the coalition and opposition.

Israeli officials framed the parade as a show of strength for Israel and New York’s Jewish community amid rising antisemitism. Ohana said the march sent a message to local leaders who, in his words, were fueling hostility toward Israel and Jews.

“This was 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 frighten us,” Ohana said.

Opposition MK Merav Ben Ari also said Israeli representatives had a responsibility to stand together abroad despite political differences at home.

“I am coming to the solidarity parade in New York as an opposition lawmaker, but first of all as a representative of the State of Israel,” Ben Ari said. “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.”