Williams: Israel trip productive

By David Skolnick

‘Business connections were made’ during the trip, the mayor said.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said a recent trip by business, education and political leaders to Israel to develop business connections was “very productive.”

Williams said an announcement on the results of the weeklong trip will be made Thursday.

“Business connections were made that will provide economic benefits for Youngstown and Warren,” he said. “There are potential economic investments to be made here by Israeli businesses and the exporting of products [from this area] to Israel. We forged business relationships.”

Most of the economic meetings were with those at the 21 business incubators in Israel, William said.

Williams declined to discuss the specifics until Thursday’s announcement.

The trip, which ended Saturday, was coordinated by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.

The groups paid for the expenses of Williams and Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien. About 10 others, half of which are local business officials, also spent the week in Israel.

The trip drew protests from local Arab-American leaders.

This was Williams’ first visit to Israel. He said he came away impressed with the country.

“You read Scriptures, and you read Bible stories, and to be in the place where these happened, where Jesus walked and miracles happened, it was spiritually uplifting,” Williams said.

Most of the trip was spent in Tel Aviv, but there also were visits to Jerusalem, Akko and Bethlehem.

“You have this vision of what [Jerusalem] looks like from the Bible, and it’s a modern city,” Williams said. “There are Coca- Cola signs everywhere. A Mercedes drove by. Jesus performed miracles 2,000 years ago where there is now a Coca-Cola sign.”

skolnick@vindy.com