De Blasio to visit Israel next week

Mayor Bill de Blasio will visit Israel next week to speak about anti-Semitism as part of a conference to be attended by other mayors around the world, his office announced Thursday.

The Democrat will be in the Middle East from Oct. 16 to 18 for a conference sponsored in part by the American Jewish Congress and American Council for World Jewry called "Anti-Semitism in the West: How Cities Must Lead."

The travel and lodging costs of the mayor and his staff members will be covered by an Israeli entrepreneur, Baruch Eliezer Gross, as a gift to the city, the mayor's office said.

Security costs will be covered by the NYPD, the mayor's office said.