NEW YORK – Businessman Paul Massey, a Republican candidate for mayor of New York City, seized an opportunity on Sunday – following Saturday night’s horrific terror attack in London – to portray the incumbent Mayor, Bill de Blasio, and his main primary opponent Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis as being weak on terror.

“I am the only candidate for mayor who has taken a steadfast and consistent stand against terror and terrorism,” Massey said in a statement while vacationing with his family in France. “For weeks, Bill de Blasio stubbornly defended his decision to march in the National Puerto Rican Day parade, which was honoring a man who founded a terrorist organization responsible for more than 100 bombings. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis continues to advocate for cutting tens of millions dollars in anti-terror funding to New York first responders, suggesting ‘the federal government needs to force their (NYC’s) hand.'”

Massey also charged that his Republican opponent has ties with the controversial Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, whom he alleged is anti-Semitic and “advocates for violence in the Middle East.” According to Massey, “Malliotakis built a friendship and took campaign donations from Ms. Sarsour, and only chose to return the money when she decided to run for citywide office.”

The Republican mayoral hopeful, it should be noted, never visited Israel, although he’s expected to travel to the Jewish State in the summer. Massey also didn’t march in the Celebrate Israel – Israeli Day Parade on Fifth Avenue.

Malliotakis marched in the parade, waving an Israeli flag behind an “Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis” banner. “No nation has faced down terrorism like Israel,” she said in a statement. “Today, I join with New Yorkers as we applaud the people Israel; their strong and resilient spirit keeps democracy alive in a region of the world better know for strong armed leaders and repressive rule.”

Malliotakis marching in the Celebrate Israel Parade – photo by Jacob Kornbluh

A spokeswoman for Massey told Jewish Insider that Massey “is on a long-planned trip with his wife and regrets not being there today.”

Malliotakis’ campaign spokesman Rob Ryan blasted Massey for skipping the Israel parade and claimed that he is “out of touch” with the everyday New Yorkers.

“The fact that he is vacationing in the midst of a primary campaign shows that he isn’t serious, but, the fact that he would skip the Celebrate Israel Parade and what it represents; a people and a nation united against terror, is sad and disturbing,” Ryan told Jewish Insider. “Especially, since he had planned until recently to participate in the Puerto Rican Day Parade along with convicted FALN terrorist Oscar Lopez Rivera. On issue after issue, Paul Massey has struggled to decide which side he’s on. Today he’s obviously on the wrong side.”

The Republican mayoral primary is on September 12, 2017. Malliotakis is endorsed by the Brooklyn and Staten Island Republicans, and also has the endorsement of the New York Conservative Party. Massey has the backing of Queens and Bronx Republican Party Committees.

This post was updated