Thousands of young people and adults marched today with bands, floats, choirs and dance groups along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue in a three-hour Salute to Israel parade. More thousands lined the parade route to watch the festivities in perfect spring weather.
Gen. Yitzhak Rabin, former Israeli chief of staff who is now Israel’s ambassador to the United States, was the guest of honor. He hailed the theme of the parade, “Jerusalem the Golden.” Mayor John V. Lindsay welcomed Gen. Rabin in his greetings to the parade. Some 300 units, including many from non-Jewish groups, took part. The marchers came from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. More than 30 floats depicted various phases of the parade theme.
Theodore Comet, parade chairman, opened the event and 20 white doves, each representing a year in the life of Israel, were released from the reviewing stand. Mr. Comet referred briefly to a counter-march staged by about 50 Arab-Americans, who were never in contact with the Israel parade. Police were on hand but had no reason to intervene. Mr. Comet said about the counter-marchers that America was a free country and that the Arabs had the right to demonstrate.
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