The Missing Marcher on Israel Day

“One of the most joyful days of the year” is how New York’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, describes the Sunday when Manhattan annually dons blue and white in celebration of the Israel Day Parade. That comment from Ms. Tisch — she will serve as a grand marshal at this weekend’s march — was delivered on Thursday at One Police Plaza alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who will not be attending on account of his “views on the Israeli government.”No loss there, given Hizzoner’s unremitting hostility toward the Jewish state. His presence would amount to the proverbial rain on the parade. Ms. Tisch explained that keeping marchers safe will require the most extensive security plan the NYPD has ever assembled for the parade, including the largest number of officers ever assigned to the detail. Ms. Tisch declared that “we are not messing around with security.” Brava, we say. Per AM New York the plan will “include heavy weapons teams, counterterrorism units, explosive-detection canines, helicopters, drones, emergency service officers, mounted units, hostile surveillance teams, plainclothes officers and extensive camera coverage.” Ms. Tisch, when asked if the mayor’s decision was motivated by security concerns, replied, “no, it’s the mayor’s decision not to march, and it’s my decision to march proudly.”No mayor has skipped the Israel Day Parade since 1965. It should come as no surprise, given that in 2023 the mayor declared that “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it has been laced by the IDF.” Last week his office released a “Nakba Day” video with a “survivor” of the 1948 war, which was precipitated by Arab aggression. Mr. Mamdani says he would have joined the video if he had not felt under the weather.The chief executive of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Mark Treyger, declared that the video “told a skewed version of history.” In March, Mr. Mamdani took the occasion of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to criticize Israel. The City Council’s minority leader, David Carr, accused him of “co-opting a Catholic feast day that is central to Irish faith, culture, and identity to fit his distorted political ideology. Not every road leads back to Gaza.” In contrast, Ms. Tisch told the Thursday briefing room — in Hebrew — that “I’m so excited to march with you.” Also planning to join the largest celebration of the Jewish state held in the diaspora are Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the City Council speaker, Julie Menin. One is hardly required to be of the stature of, say, Jabotinsky, to recognize that Israel is worth supporting in the world’s largest Jewish city.This celebration of Israel’s 78th birthday is themed “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.” It marks the twin miracles of 1776 and 1948. It will draw all sorts of New Yorkers who perceive that America and Israel are together a force for good. It’s a shame that Mr. Mamdani hasn’t found it within himself to join his fellow New Yorkers who will march on Sunday to celebrate the blue and white and the stars and stripes together.

The Missing Marcher on Israel Day

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