Gov. Charlie Crist leaves today for Israel to lead a delegation of Florida political and business leaders on a week-long mission aimed at improving trade and cultural ties between the two states. What might otherwise be a routine goodwill trip takes on added urgency because of the potential of Florida’s property insurance and still-unresolved property tax problems to drag down the real estate market that is vital to the state’s economy. Israel is not a top trade partner with Florida. (Associated Press)