Former US ambassador says Smotrich ‘crashed’ New York Israel Day Parade

Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich “was not invited to the Israel Day Parade in New York. He crashed it.”

In a post on X, Shapiro added: “He should have stayed away. His extremist views do harm to the US-Israel relationship.”

Shapiro served as US ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017.

Smotrich took part in a large Israeli parliamentary delegation at the parade led by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

Smotrich was not invited to the Israel Day Parade in New York. He crashed it. He should have stayed away. His extremist views do harm to the US-Israel relationship.

— Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) June 2, 2026