Refusing to "glorify" an "organization that uses violence," Mayor Michael Bloomberg excluded diplomats from the Palestinian Authority from a Gracie Mansion concert recital Tuesday.
"Given the fact that the mayor has been outspoken in his criticism of both [Yasir] Arafat and the Palestinian Authority, he felt the city should not be glorifying an organization that uses violence as a political tool," said Bloomberg spokesman Ed Skyler.

Howard Nevison's friends believe he is innocent, and some of them are putting their money where their mouth is.
A letter went out last week from a committee of Cantor Nevison's friends who are raising money for his newly established legal defense fund, The Jewish Week has learned.
The cantor, who for 24 years has served the Upper East Side's tony Temple Emanu-El, was arrested in February on charges that he sexually molested his young nephew. He is now awaiting trial. Nevison's lawyer has maintained that his client is innocent.