With Israel Day on Fifth scheduled for later this month, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not changed his position on attending the annual Manhattan parade celebrating Israel.

A spokesperson for Mamdani, responding to public criticism from a Brooklyn Republican Assembly member, referred amNewYork to comments the mayor made in October, when he said he would not attend the parade but would support city security and permitting for the event.

“I look forward to joining — and hosting — many community events celebrating Jewish life in New York and the rich Jewish history and culture of our city,” Mamdani told JTA at the time. “While I will not be attending the Israel Day Parade, my lack of attendance should not be mistaken for a refusal to provide security or the necessary permits for its safety. I’ve been very clear: I believe in equal rights for all people — everywhere. That principle guides me consistently.”

The parade, now called Israel Day on Fifth, is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Fifth Avenue from 62nd to 74th streets. This year’s theme is “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists,” according to the event’s website.

Assembly Member Michael Novakhov, a Republican who represents parts of southern Brooklyn, criticized Mamdani on Wednesday for not attending, calling the decision “a disgraceful insult to New York’s Jewish community.”

“For decades, elected officials from both parties understood the importance of standing with New York’s Jewish community at the Israel Day Parade,” Novakhov said in a statement. “Zohran Mamdani is choosing to boycott this event because he is more interested in appeasing radical antisemitic extremists than standing with Jewish New Yorkers.”

Mamdani, however, has not described his decision as a boycott. His October comments framed the decision as a refusal to attend the parade while still allowing the city to provide the security and permits needed for it to proceed safely.

Former Mayor Eric Adams, a staunch ally of Israel, pictured marching in the 2025 paradePhoto by Dean Moses

The mayor’s stance on the parade comes after his views on Israel and Gaza became a recurring issue during last year’s mayoral race.

Mamdani, a longtime critic of Israel’s government and supporter of Palestinian rights, previously condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel as a “horrific war crime” in an October statement while also accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a “genocidal war” in Gaza.

He also faced criticism during the campaign for initially declining to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a slogan many Jewish New Yorkers view as threatening. Mamdani later said he discouraged use of the phrase, saying the divide between what some intend by it and how others hear it was “a bridge too far.”

During an October mayoral debate, Mamdani was also asked more broadly whether he would march in all city parades as mayor. He did not name the Israel Day Parade in that answer, saying, “There are many parades that I would not be attending because I’d be focusing on the work of leading the city.”

Last year’s Israel Day on Fifth parade drew several major elected officials, including then-Mayor Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer.

While Mamdani has not backed away from his criticism of Israel, he has sought to reassure Jewish New Yorkers that his administration will take antisemitism and hate crimes seriously.

On Tuesday, he proposed a $26 million budget for the city’s Office to Prevent Hate Crimes, a move that earned him praise from long-time critics at the Anti-Defamation League.