Residents of New Jersey spent nearly $40,000 to send their Governor to Israel for some non-campaigning earlier this month. According to his office, Chris Christie's trip to the Middle East cost $39,871 to taxpayers. Those costs covered State Trooper protection for Christie, his family and 13 other delegates on the trip to Israel and Jordan that totally had nothing to do whatsoever with rumors of Christie running for President in 2016. Nothing at all. more ›

At what point do you start teaching kids the complicated geopolitics of the Middle East and how much detail on each side do you give? That is the question brought up today by public school parent Dana Milstein, whose 10-year-old recently came home from school with what Milstein found to be an alarming, propagandist "fact sheet" on Israel. Now she's taking her concerns to the public—and she has some points. more ›

After a closed-door 90-meeting in the Oval Office lasted far longer than expected today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama emerged to brief reporters on their, ahem, progress. And in a rare public rebuke, Netanyahu-serious told Obama and the world straight up: Any return to the 1967 borders with Palestine is out of the question and indefensible. Watch what the Wall Street Journal describes as an "awkward moment": more ›

It's no surprise that some politicians and wealthy Israel supporters were angered by President Obama's Mideast peace speech yesterday, which called for a Palestinian state based on the borders that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War. But at least nobody's distorting Obama's message with overheated hyperbole to score cheap political points. Take likely GOP candidate Mitt Romney's circumspect reaction: "President Obama has thrown Israel under the bus. He has disrespected Israel and undermined its ability to negotiate peace. He has also violated a first principle of American foreign policy, which is to stand firm by your friends." Romney must have seen the Director's Cut of Obama's address, because we seem to recall him saying, "Our commitment to Israel's security is unshakable." Of course, when it comes to the Middle East, everyone's a critic: more ›

During a major speech on Middle East policy today, President Obama used the opportunity to directly address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and called for the creation of a Palestinian state along the borders which existed before the 1967 Six Day War. As the NY Times notes, it's the first time an American president has explicitly taken that position. more ›

A week after Tony Kushner's honorary degree from John Jay College was halted by the CUNY Board of Trustees (because of Kushner's stance on Middle East politics), the board's executive committee gave it right back last night. The decision, which concluded a less-than-30 minute meeting where board members expressed displeasure with the way the situation had unfolded, comes after tremendous political pressure was put on the school. Explained trustee Kathleen M. Pesile yesterday, “we are now correcting it because it benefits CUNY and we will not get another chance to remove this blemish.” more ›

Happy Global BDS Day of Action on Land Day! Today activists like the ones in this video will be calling for a boycott of Israel "until it respects the basic rights of Palestinians living under occupation, within Israel and in exile." To start the festivities early, on Saturday a flash mob of 30 keffiyeh-clad protesters performed a big dance number in Grand Central Terminal to the tune of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey—but with the chorus "Don't stop boycottin'." Cringing already? Watch the video and get ready to change your name to Cringer Rogers: more ›

Artist-turned-director Julian Schnabel latest film, Miral, based on Rula Jebreal's novel about growing up as an orphaned Palestinian girl after the Arab-Israeli conflict, premiered earlier this week at the United Nations, in spite of the American Jewish Committee's attempt to shut it down. The AJC believed the movie's goal was to portray Israel in a "negative light," leading the film's distributor Harvey Weinstein and Schnabel, who are both Jewish, to encourage protesters to see the movie first; Schnabel also said, "I love the State of Israel. I believe in it, and my film is about preserving it, not hurting it. Understanding is part of the Jewish way and Jewish people are supposed to be good listeners. But, if we don’t listen to the other side, we can never have peace." more ›

King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia arrived at JFK Airport this morning for medical treatment and tests. Apparently the leader of the world's top oil-producing country suffered a slipped disc and a blood clot was pressing on his nerves, prompting the need for further treatment in the U.S. The country's health minister said, "I assure everyone that the king is in stable condition and enjoys good health and God willing will return in good health to lead this great nation." more ›

In an interview with BlogTalkRadio, Tom Brokaw relayed some advice to college grads: "I wouldn't be looking just within our borders for opportunities. I'd be looking to see what the chances are of getting a job in the Middle East, for example. Or in India. Or in China. I've talked to a number of very senior American executives who -- so much of their work now is offshore -- say one of the things they need are people who are willing to pack up and go there and become middle managers." Wait, is this a plug for a show on Brokaw's former network? more ›

Yesterday, President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and asked them to seize "this moment of opportunity" and embark on peace talks. He said afterwards, "The hard work is only beginning. Neither success nor failure is inevitable. But this much we know: If we do not make the attempt, then failure is guaranteed." Netanyahu called Abbas his "partner in peace" while Abbas noted he'd work in spite "the difficulties we’re going to face tomorrow." Obama also said, "We are under no illusions. Passions run deep. Each side has legitimate and enduring interests. Years of mistrust will not disappear overnight." more ›

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced today that Israel and Palestine have been invited to resume peace talks in Washington, D.C. next month. But (!) special envoy George Mitchell said that neither side has accepted yet, "We have been in consultation with both; we expect to hear from them shortly. It will be their decision whether to accept." According to CNN, he said the goal of the talks was to end the Middle East conflict "for all time" and establish a "viable, independent" Palestinian state next to Israel. He added, "I believe the [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] ... are sincere and serious and believe it can be done and will do everything possible to see that it is done." more ›

A 21-year old American student at Cooper Union lost an eye after getting hit in the face with a tear gas projectile fired by an Israeli soldier during a demonstration at a crowded checkpoint between Israel and the West Bank yesterday. Emily Henochowicz (here's her blog) was part of a group protesting the deaths of at least nine pro-Palestinian activists aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. According to her fellow activists, Henochowicz is undergoing surgery to remove her left eye, and one protester, Sören Johanssen, says Israeli soldiers intentionally fired at her face: more ›

A six-ship convoy carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza was attacked by Israeli commandoes, leaving at least nine dead and earning condemnations from around the world. The Washington Post reports, "The European Union called for an inquiry into the deaths. And the United Nations Security Council planned to meet Monday afternoon for an emergency session. The United States expressed regret at the loss of the life and said it was 'working to understand the circumstances of the tragedy.'" Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called it "state terrorism." more ›

A building can be the target of a hate crime, not just a person, or so ruled an appelate court in the case of man who threw Molotov Cocktails at a Bronx synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur. Thirty-year-old Palestinian-American Mazin Assi is currently serving 5 to 15 for the crime he committed in 2000, with three other men. His lawyer said he should have been convicted only of attempted arson, but a judge decided the stricter charges apply. "It is self-evident that, although the target of the defendant's criminal conduct was a building, the true victims were the individuals of Jewish faith who were members of the synagogue,'' Judge Victoria Graffeo wrote in a ruling that "broadens the hate crimes act," according to the New York Law Journal. more ›

With U.S.-Israel relations very frayed, Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington D.C. this week, delivering a speech at the AIPAC conference (where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke) and meeting with President Obama. However, the White House meeting didn't go very well, if you believe the press from Israel, which has been likening it to a "hazing" and an "ambush." According to the Telegraph, Israel's Maariv newspaper wrote, "There is no humiliation exercise that the Americans did not try on the prime minister and his entourage. Bibi received in the White House the treatment reserved for the president of Equatorial Guinea." more ›

With attention on the strained relations between U.S. and Israel in recent days, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made it clear she views the two countries as allies. The NY Times reports, that she "brush[ed] aside talk of a crisis" by saying, "Oh, I don’t buy that. I’ve been around not that long, but a long time. We have an absolute commitment to Israel’s security. We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel and between the American and Israeli people." more ›

Former president Jimmy Carter sent an "open letter to the Jewish community" via the Jewish Telegraphic Agency earlier this week. In it, he apologized for his past statements criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Here's the letter, "An open letter to the Jewish community at the season of Chanukah from former President Jimmy Carter: The time of Chanukah and the Christian holidays presents an occasion for reflection on the past and for looking to the future. In that vein, I wish to share some thoughts with you about the State of Israel and the Middle East..." more ›

But it was a false alarm! According to Reuters, a crew on a United flight from Los Angeles to JFK Airport (with Cairo as the final destination) was suspicious of two Middle Eastern men because "one of the men got up to use the plane's restroom just before take-off, ignoring orders from the flight crew to remain in his seat." more ›

President Obama delivered a speech about the United States' relationship with the Muslim world from Cairo University in Egypt, telling a worldwide audience, "I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings." Full text here and video after the jump, but here are some excerpts:

America is not and never will be at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire... more ›

The NYPD will have police officers stationed in Abu Dhabi to, per WNBC, "help in crime fighting as well as share intelligence in the war on terror. " Calling the United Arab Emirates the "crossroads of the Middle East," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said information will be exchanged between the NYPD and Abu Dhabi officials and that the NYPD will help train their personnel. Having NYPD officials overseas is nothing new, as they are in Montreal, Toronto, London, Madrid, Paris, Tel Aviv and other cities. A few years ago, the New Yorker had a great feature on the NYPD's anti-terror work. more ›

At the Ethnic Market highlights international specialty foods and ingredients that you're very unlikely to find at your local Gristedes. more ›

While Six Sigma's goal-oriented blather and obsession with measuring everything was jarring, it was also weirdly familiar, inasmuch as it was strikingly reminiscent of my college Maoism I class. Mao seemed to be a good model for Jack Welch and his Six Sigma foot soldiers; Six Sigma's "Champions" and "Black Belts" were Mao's "Cadres" and "Squad Leaders." more ›

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani is in Florida today, skipping the Iowa caucus that his team never counted on anyway. Still, his staffers are trying to remain relevant in Iowa by "contacting reporters, reminding them that even though the former New York mayor is lagging badly [in Iowa]...he will remain a player in the big states that hold their primaries in upcoming weeks." more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a scaffolding collapse on 5th Ave. and 115th St. in Manhattan, a stabbing on Franklin Ave. in Queens, and a homicide at 83rd St. and 4th Ave. in Brooklyn.
• The new Kaleidoscope Light Show is now on display at Grand Central Terminal's main hall.
• The Toshiba company returns to Times Square after being absent for several decades. The company signed a 10-year lease to capture the top sign spot at 1 Times Square.
• Marty Markowitz will be lighting the giant Brooklyn menorah tomorrow night at Court and Montague Sts. Mr. Met will do the honors flipping the switch on the menorah at Grand Army Plaza.
• A DHL cargo plane will depart from JFK tomorrow loaded with 500 Christmas trees to be delivered to troops in the Middle East.
• Donald Trump Jr. has been renamed the head of his condo board after being ousted without warning a year ago.
• Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte will hold off on retirement and return to the team for the 2008 season.
• The folks at WOXY radio will be streaming nothing but holiday music online between now and Christmas.

A look at some noteworthy television this week: Lincoln Center Tree Lighting 2007 (Monday, 5:30 p.m, WABC 7) Good Morning America’s Sam Champion and WABC’s Sade Baderinwa host the first televised tree lighting of the season. There will be some performances by Lincoln Center’s resident companies and some guest’s from channel 7’s owner Disney on hand for entertainment for the 8th annual Lincoln Center Holiday Tree lighting. America at a Crossroads (Monday, 9:00 p.m &... more ›

The bicyclist who died while riding on the Manhattan Bridge Friday night was identified as 27-year-old Brooklyn resident Sam Hindy. Hindy's father Stephen, a former Middle East correspondent for the AP and Newsday reporter who later co-founded the Brooklyn Brewery, said, "We're just devastated. This is the worst thing that could happen to any parent. It's any parent's worst nightmare." Sam Hindy and a friend were riding back from Manhattan to Brooklyn on the upper... more ›

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