Ryan hopes visit to Israel benefits Valley

The congressman wants to take Valley leaders to Israel in a year or two.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan sees Israel as a potential business partner with the Mahoning Valley.
Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, is visiting the country with a 30-person group led by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and largely consisting of Akron business leaders to discuss increasing the number of economic partnerships between companies in Israel and the Rubber City.
Many venture capitalists and high-technology business owners in Israel are eager to invest in or open businesses in the United States, Ryan said.
Ryan, whose congressional district includes four of Akron's 10 wards, said the successful business relationship between Israel and Akron should be used as a model for the Mahoning Valley with the Middle East country.
"There are a lot of investment opportunities in Israel," Ryan said Thursday in a telephone interview from the country. "Akron, quite frankly, is leading the way. Akron's doing a fantastic job" of capitalizing on those opportunities with Israeli businesses.
Those from the Mahoning Valley visiting Israel with Ryan are Sam Kooperman, executive vice president of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation; Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, the federation's director of community relations; Bruce Lev, a real estate and developer; Atty. Michael Harshman; and Poland Mayor Ruth Wilkes.
"My goal is to see how Israel works with Akron and then talk with business leaders in the Mahoning Valley" about the successful formula, Ryan said.
The congressman wants to take a Youngstown-area business delegation to Israel in the next year or two.
"The bottom line is no one's going to come into our community and drop 5,000 jobs," he said. "We have to go get them. This is long-term stuff. We'll learn from Akron."
The group arrived Sunday in Israel and is returning tonight to Ohio.
Conditions there
Ryan is visiting Israel during an unstable time for the nation's government. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke Jan. 4 and remains hospitalized.
The Akron-Youngstown delegation was to meet this week with Ehud Olmet, the deputy prime minister who is serving as acting prime minister. The meeting had to be canceled.
"This is the worst week to try to meet with a high-ranking official" in Israel, Ryan said.
The Israeli people and government are operating with the understanding that Sharon's political career is probably over, Ryan said. The nation's election is March 28.
"It's unbelievable how stable the government is" under these conditions, Ryan said. "It speaks to how flexible and resilient democracies are."
But without Sharon as Israel's prime minister, Ryan said the United States is going to have to take a greater role in the ongoing struggle for peace in the Middle East.
"Sharon is tough to replace," he said. "It's no doubt a blow to the peace process."
skolnick@vindy.com