New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend an annual parade honoring Israel. The fierce defender of Palestinian human rights is skipping the event as he remains under heavy scrutiny from some of the city’s Jewish population over his longstanding criticism of Israel. Sunday's Israel Day parade in Manhattan has for years drawn mayors and political leaders. It also attracts a crowd of thousands of blue-and-white flag-waving revelers celebrating the birth of the Jewish state in 1948. Mamdani’s absence has long been expected. But it has riled opponents who view his criticism of Israeli policy as antisemitic.