Inclement weather couldn’t keep the state of New York from showing its Israel pride on Sunday, with over 30,000 supporters – including Governor Andrew Cuomo – joining the annual Celebrate Israel Parade through the streets of Manhattan despite pouring rain.
Just before the parade, Cuomo announced a new pro-Israel initiative to be implemented in New York: a state ban on dealing with companies or organizations that support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to harm Israel through economic means.
The executive order requires a list to be drawn up of all businesses that support BDS, either directly or indirectly. Once the list is established, “all executive branch agencies and departments — which make up a large portion of state government — as well as public boards, authorities, commissions, and all public-benefit corporations will be required to divest themselves of any company on the list”, the order read.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who also marched in Sunday’s parade, added, “The residents of New York believe in Israel and we have a deep love for the people of Israel.” “As long as I am mayor, we will always stand by Israel,” de Blasio vowed.
The day of the parade was overcast, with occasional downpours, but that didn’t stop thousands of supporters from turning up.
“People’s spirits are so good,” said de Blasio of the weather. “We believe in the state of Israel, we defend the state of Israel. It doesn’t matter that it’s raining, doesn’t matter what the circumstance or what the critics say, here in this city, we have a deep love for the people of Israel and the state of Israel.” “Every act of solidarity matters,” he said firmly.
The parade coincided with Jerusalem Day, which commemorates the reunification of Israel’s capital city in 1967. Much like in New York, Jerusalem’s streets were filled with blue-and-white clad supporters waving flags, singing, and dancing in celebration of God’s holy city.
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