Now that former New York City mayor and current bridge Ed Koch feels that he got what he wanted out of his support for winning GOP candidate Bob Turner in Anthony Weiner's former district, he's ready to be friends with Democrats again. "I believe the recent vote in the 9th Congressional District in New York affected in a positive way the policy of the U.S. on the Mideast," Koch wrote in an email blast to supporters. "I'm now on board the Obama Reelection Express." Yeah, doesn't it feel good to get off the "Backstabby Crybaby Bus?" more ›

The MTA will not run ads from right-wing demagogue Pamela Geller, who wanted to spread the word that those who oppose Israel are "savages." Geller has previously bought ads on MTA buses showing a plane about to hit the second tower at the World Trade Center, with a rendering of the Islamic center and mosque planned for Lower Manhattan, and the question, "Why There?" The MTA first rejected that ad, then approved it after Geller threatened to sue. Naturally, she's threatening to sue again, so there's still hope her xenophobic message of hate will come to a subway station near you! more ›

A year ago, President Obama pushed the UN to reach an agreement that would create a soverign Palestinian state. Now, with Israel digging in against any such accord and Palestinians upset that the US has refused to support their bid for independence, Obama was forced to tread lightly and speak in sweeping generalities in today's speech [pdf] to the General Assembly. After acknowledging that he still supports an independent Palestine Obama said, "Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side...It is Israelis and Palestinians—not us—who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them." more ›

A week before it formally asks the United Nations for statehood, the Palestinian delegation is getting ready with some carbo-loading. According to the Post, they "had a late-night feast of expensive wine and heaping platters of pasta at Cipriani Downtown... The officials entered the swank eatery on West Broadway in TriBeCa at about 11:30 p.m. Friday and were seated at the large table in the back." more ›

Are the children and ultra-conservative Israel lobbyists out of the room? Good, because we don't want to scare/offend anyone with this advertisement, which was put up in subways earlier this month. The campaign, paid for by a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups, calls for an
 end
 to
 U.S.
 military
 aid
 to
 Israel. This message, according to local Assemblyman Dov Hikind, is "very, very dangerous." more ›

Gay porn star and producer Michael Lucas—who you might remember from such films as Piss!, Men in Stockings, Feet! and Farts!—is once again calling for a boycott of the NYC LGBT Center. Earlier this year the Center was persuaded, in part because of the fuss made by Lucas, to cancel an event for an anti-Israel group called Siege Busters Working Group but now the group has merged with another group, "Queers Against Israeli Apartheid," and gotten space at the Center. And Lucas is livid. 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 ›

As the pro-Palestine Global BDS Day of Action on Land Day draws to a close, we'd like to take this opportunity to point out that the counterprotest today is a lot more complex than originally understood. To recap, thousands of pro-Palestine activists are protesting around the globe today and calling for people to boycott companies like Victoria's Secret, which supposedly makes some of its clothes in Israel. To protest the protest, a pro-Israel group promised to send "sexy Israel supporters" to hand out Victoria Secret panties in Union Square Park, to encourage people to support Israel by supporting the lingerie company. But if the blog Jewish FAIL is to believed, there is actually a rather perverse irony to all of this. 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 ›

Last month, the newish executive director of the NYC LGBT Center made the controversial decision to cancel a "Party to End Apartheid!" party scheduled for tomorrow night. Part of "Israeli Apartheid Week," the dance party was being put together by the Siege Busters Working Group, which was also summarily banned from meeting at the center by executive director Glennda Testone. This decision was made hours after Michael Lucas, a wealthy gay porn producer and Israeli-American, threatened to organize a boycott with some of the center's biggest donors. To some, it looked like Testone was caving because of financial pressures, and in the days since the kerfuffle, the critics are still demanding satisfaction. more ›

Next Saturday night there was supposed to be a raging "Party to End Apartheid!" for Israeli Apartheid Week at the NYC LGBT Center, where the group Siege Busters Working Group meets regularly. (Emily Henochowicz, the Cooper Union student who lost an eye while protesting in Israel last summer, is a member.) There was going to be "DJ sets, guest performances, and great company" from 8 p.m. to midnight. But then along came gay porn producer Michael Lucas, an Israeli-American whom you may recall from such hits as Shameless Hole and Piss Gods, to pour hot oil all over the plan. more ›

In a surprise twist, Brooklyn College has rehired the professor who was previously unhired after Assemblyman Dov Hikind complained about his alleged anti-Israeli leanings. The college has maintained that Kristofer Petersen-Overton, 26, was fired from teaching a Middle East politics seminar because he didn't have a Ph.D.—not because of his political beliefs. The Political Science Department had unanimously voted to approve Petersen-Overton to teach the seminar, but last week—within 24 hours after Hikind complained—the administration overruled the vote. Accusations of academic repression flew, and a petition in support of Petersen-Overton drew 1,700 signatures. Hikind's not happy, and tells us: more ›

Today, President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly with remarks about a number of issues, but there was particular focus on peace in the Middle East and Iran's nuclear proliferation. He said, " Those of us who are friends of Israel must understand that true security for the Jewish state requires an independent Palestine -- one that allows the Palestinian people to live with dignity and opportunity. And those of us who are friends of the Palestinians must understand that the rights of the Palestinian people will be won only through peaceful means -- including genuine reconciliation with a secure Israel." 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 ›

After being accused of attempting to indoctrinate students with a supposedly pro-Palestine book by alumnus Bruce Kesler, who wrote on his blog that he has written his alma mater out of his will, Brooklyn College is defending their now-controversial choice for their "Common Reader" program. The program encourages incoming students to read a common book and discuss the reading with each other and with the author during orientation, but they say students aren't even required to read the book. Below is the school's statement, sics and all: more ›

Brooklyn College alumnus Bruce Kesler has cut his alma mater out of his will over what he is calling an "unacceptable" book assignment. Like most colleges, Brooklyn College requires that incoming freshmen all read one book before they move in; the "common experience" is supposed to help the new class bond. This year the school chose "How Does It Feel To Be A Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America" by Brooklyn College professor Moustafa Bayoumi, whom Kesler describes as a "radical pro-Palestinian." Kesler writes on his blog: 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 ›

As you may recall, a 21-year old American student at Cooper Union lost an eye after getting hit in the face with a tear gas projectile during a checkpoint demonstration in Israel in May. Artist Emily Henochowicz was doing a semester abroad when she got involved with the International Solidarity Movement, and on May 31st she joined a demonstration against the the deaths of pro-Palestinian activists aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Rocks were thrown at Israeli border police, who, according to witness accounts, fired tear gas canisters directly at the protesters. more ›

After two decades covering Mideast affairs for CNN, Senior Editor Octavia Nasr saw her career go poof with a tweet mourning the passing of Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Fadlallah, a Muslim cleric who died on Sunday after a lifetime spent endorsing suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and inspiring Hezbollah. But Fadlallah was also relatively progressive in some ways, issuing fatwas against "honor" killings and female circumcision. That's what Nasr liked about the guy, but the 140 character Twitter format is no friend to nuance: "Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah… One of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot." more ›

Turkey is demanding an international inquiry into Israel's fatal raid of a convoy carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza last week, Israel's U.S. Ambassador is promising that his country will never apologize "for measures that were necessarily taken to defend the lives of our soldiers, and Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on the State Department to determine if the Turkish group bankrolling the flotilla has ties to Al Qaeda. And to top it off, the Pixies canceled their Wednesday concert in Tel Aviv to protest Israel's handling of the convoy. more ›

Part of the fun of being really old is you can say outrageous things and everyone thinks it's just adorable. Of course, there are exceptions, like the Israeli occupation of Palestine, for instance. Longtime White House press corps reporter Helen Thomas has abruptly retired today amidst fallout from remarks made last month about the need for Jews to "get the hell out of Palestine" and return to Poland and Germany. Thomas, who turns 90 in August, apologized over the weekend, but that wasn't enough, and today her employer, Hearst Newspapers, announced that "she is retiring, effective immediately." According to Politico, Thomas was not in her usual front row seat during this morning's press briefing, and journalists, "perhaps sensing the closing of an era, were spotted taking pictures of Thomas' empty front row." more ›

Earlier today, the Irish ship, the Rachel Corrie, carrying aid to Gaza was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops without resistance. BBC News reports the ship is now in the Port of Ashod, "Israel says it will question those on board at the port and transfer the aid to the Gaza Strip by land after checking the cargo for banned items." 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 ›