Bright sunshine, a gaggle of politicians and thousands of onlookers greeted New York’s “Salute to Israel Parade” on Sunday.
One of the largest celebrations of its kind in the United States, the generally incident-free parade boded well for hundreds of similar events being planned around the country to mark Israel’s 40th anniversary. There were no counterdemonstrations and few sour notes struck among the estimated 40,000 marchers.
Groups taking part were as disparate in their styles as Israel’s Tzofim scout troops, who wore identical khaki outfits and marched in tight formation, and the American Sephardi Federation, whose float was a riot of loud music and louder costumes. More than 100 groups and schools took part, and most seemed to lend uncomplicated enthusiasm to the day’s theme: “40 and Forever.”
But there was a more defiant tone heard among onlookers and at least one politician, Rep. James Scheuer (D-N.Y.), who said that Israel “doesn’t need supporters who only support her in the hour of victory.”
In a short address to the crowd at the 68th Street reviewing stand, Scheuer acknowledged the day’s headlines, which included news that Israeli troops had slain 10 to 15 more Palestinians during riots in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Scheuer called the Israeli actions “necessary but unpleasant steps” needed to maintain the country’s security and survival. He labeled Israel’s critics “sunshine supporters.”
Among the Democratic presidential candidates vying in Tuesday’ Democratic primary in New York, Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis briefly took part in the parade. Gore’s short greeting was followed by a two-block march arm-in-arm with New York Mayor Edward Koch.
Koch has endorsed Gore in the primaries and has recorded a radio spot in which he urges voters, “Don’t waste your vote by being negative. Be positive and vote for Al Gore.”
The line is a reference to a belief among some Jewish voters that a vote for Gore would be to the benefit of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who is running a close second to Dukakis in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Opposition to Jackson is considerable among Jewish voters, who object to a number of statements and positions the candidate has taken on the Middle East and other issues. Still, when a few dozen marchers from the militant Jewish Defense Organization chanted “Jesse Jackson go to hell,” few in the reviewing stands picked up the refrain or applauded.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
