Mamdani's choice to treat Jewish national identity as shameful is another in a pattern

New York City Mayor Eric Adams's decision to skip the annual Israel Day Parade, where tens of thousands will march, marks a significant break from a 61-year tradition. While his police commissioner will attend as grand marshal and the city pledges security, Adams himself will be absent. This move is seen by critics as part of a larger pattern of anti-Israel actions that has coincided with a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in New York.

The editorial points to a series of actions by Adams since taking office in January. On his first day, he rescinded two orders from his predecessor: one preventing city agencies from boycotting Israel, and another adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Israel's Foreign Ministry reportedly described this as "antisemitic gasoline on an open fire."

This pattern includes Adams's refusal to call Israel a "Jewish state" and his skipping of Israel's Independence Day. The editorial highlights that in January alone, antisemitic hate crimes in New York surged by 183%, with 31 attacks on Jews compared to 11 in the same month the previous year. Critics argue that by dismantling guardrails his predecessor had put in place, Adams is increasing danger for Jews at a time when threats are escalating.

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It's not a policy parade. It's a Jewish people parade.

The mayor's stance has led to alienation even among major Jewish institutions. The UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council, two of the city's largest Jewish bodies, boycotted a Jewish Heritage Month event hosted by Adams. This indicates a significant disconnect between the mayor's claims of cherishing Jewish New Yorkers and the perception of his actions.

Even within Israel's own representatives, there is division on how to engage with Adams. While the World Zionist Organization chairman invited him to march, Consul General Ofir Akunis rejected the invitation, stating the chairman had no standing to invite a mayor who refuses to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state. Regardless of the differing approaches, both figures agreed that Adams's absence from the parade would send a clear message.

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antisemitic gasoline on an open fire