Hochul Slams Smotrich’s Appearance at NYC Israel Parade
In a post on the US social media platform X, Hochul said, "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."
She further condemned his presence at the event, stating, "Yesterday’s parade was a celebration of Jewish pride, community, and unity. I strongly condemn his participation."
Smotrich, a key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, joined Sunday's parade alongside several Israeli representatives, including Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu.
The finance minister has faced widespread international backlash over previous comments about Palestinians. Critics have pointed to statements in which he advocated the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and supported the idea of using nuclear weapons in Gaza.
In February 2023, following a settler attack on the Palestinian village of Huwwara, Smotrich said Israel should "wipe out" the village, a remark that sparked significant condemnation.
Separately, media reports have indicated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) submitted a confidential request for an arrest warrant against Smotrich over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied West Bank.
According to those reports, the alleged offenses include forced displacement, transferring Israel’s civilian population into occupied territory as a war crime, and acts described as persecution and apartheid under crimes against humanity provisions.
Eliyahu, who also attended the parade, has previously generated controversy for remarks regarding Gaza. Among his statements was a call for nuclear weapons to be used against the territory, and he also declared that "there is no problem bombing their food and fuel reserves. They should starve."
Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, did not attend the parade, becoming the first mayor in the event's history to boycott the annual gathering.
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