Mayors’ visit to Israel opposed

By David Skolnick

There are a lot of business opportunities for the Valley with Israeli firms, a Jewish Federation official says.

YOUNGSTOWN — Officials with the Arab American Community Center of Youngstown object to the participation by the mayors of Youngstown and Warren in a business trip to Israel that leaves today.

Amer Adi, the center’s president, said the United States shouldn’t conduct any business with Israel, accusing the nation of war crimes and oppressing Palestinians.

Also, business with Israel is a “bad deal economically” for the United States, Adi said.

Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, said Adi’s perceptions about some Israeli- Palestinian issues are “simply wrong.”

“Unfortunately, that approach to economic development is backward thinking,” said Burdman, who is accompanying the mayors on the trip. “There are a lot of business opportunities for existing businesses in the Mahoning Valley and new businesses to come to the Valley.”

Also objecting to the visit is the Rev. Werner Lange of Newton Falls. He protested outside the city halls of Youngstown and Warren on Thursday.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien are part of a local delegation leaving today for a one-week trip to Israel coordinated by the Jewish Federation and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.

Local officials will meet with Israeli industry, university and government leaders and attend presentations on Israeli and Mediterranean markets.

Williams said he fully respects and supports the rights of those in the Arab-American community to object “to recent issues they perceive as a concern.”

But the mayor said, “I am disappointed that they would suggest that as the mayor of a culturally diverse community, I should not seek to also engage other cultural groups.”

skolnick@vindy.com