30,000 PARADE THROUGH NEW YORK IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL:

 Despite a persistent downpour of rain some 30,000 people marched through New York on Sunday 5 May 2016, in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade. Hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the parade, which featured floats with dancers, bands, and performers, made its way through Manhattan. Among those who took part were NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo, a delegation of Israeli MKs and city mayors, and Israel’s envoy to the UN Danny Danon. "The residents of New York believe in Israel and we have a deep love for the people of Israel,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. "As long as I am mayor, we will always stand by Israel.” The night before the parade, the city’s iconic Empire State Building was lit up in blue and white to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, also on Sunday, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered agencies under his control to divest themselves of organizations aligned with a Palestinian-backed boycott movement against Israel. Cuomo called the BDS movement an "economic attack" on Israel and said, "If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you." (Times of Israel)