Governor Kathy Hochul pledges New York’s Celebrate Israel Parade will “never, never, never” be canceled, as mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani faces fire over his anti-Israel positions.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued an emphatic guarantee: the annual Celebrate Israel Parade—a staple of New York’s cultural calendar—will never be scrapped, despite rising controversy surrounding mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Speaking with Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Hampton Synagogue, Hochul was asked whether she would allow Mamdani to “mess” with the parade. Her reply was blunt and unequivocal:
“Rabbi, that will never happen. Never, never, never happen. That parade will always continue,” Hochul vowed.
While Mamdani’s campaign insists he has no intention of canceling or restricting the parade, the Queens lawmaker has drawn sharp criticism for his anti-Israel record. Among them: refusing to sign a May resolution recognizing Israel’s 77th anniversary, declining to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” and focusing his October 8, 2023 remarks on condemning Israel rather than Hamas after the terror group’s brutal attacks.
Mamdani has pledged that as mayor he would ensure the city complies with international law, even suggesting he would enforce potential ICC arrest warrants against Israeli leaders such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On the BDS movement, Mamdani dodged direct questions, insisting only that his actions would not “violate international law.”
The controversy has drawn national attention. Former President Donald Trump blasted Mamdani as a “communist lunatic”, vowing he would not allow him to “destroy New York.” Trump added, “He’s terrible. The last thing we need is a communist.”
Governor Hochul has also pressed Mamdani directly on his rhetoric. In a recent MSNBC interview, she revealed she told him: “You have a lot of healing to do with the Jewish community. Many of your words have been hurtful and hateful.” Hochul stressed that New Yorkers must never feel unsafe because of their faith or who holds office.
With tensions rising, Hochul’s promise ensures the Celebrate Israel Parade remains a symbol of solidarity—even as the city’s political battle over Israel intensifies.
