Staff Writer

Some Virginia lawmakers say it's time that the commonwealth does more to strengthen economic ties with Israel.

"There are things Virginia has to gain from strengthening relations to Israel" including jobs and technology, Virginia Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Fairfax) said from aboard a bus last week as he was leaving the Golan Heights in Northern Israel.

Deeds was visiting Israel on a 10-day mission organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington to give elected officials an understanding of the Jewish homeland and the significant issues surrounding Israel, according to Debra Linick, the JCRC's Northern Virginia liaison.

Unlike JCRC's previous 22 missions, this one was the first time the agency has exclusively hosted Virginia officials. In Linick's view, the trip is one way the JCRC can "play catch-up" in the commonwealth.

Deeds, who is planning to enter next year's gubernatorial race, said he will aim to form connections within Israel's booming technology market as a means to increase jobs at home. This was his first visit to the Middle Eastern state.

Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington, Fairfax Co., Falls Church City), who chairs the state's Economic Development and Natural Resources subcommittee, also reinforced the need for future alliances with Israeli companies.

The lawmakers met with officials at ODIS, a leading Israeli company in development, design and manufacture of filters, water and wastewater treatment systems, and members of EPC Ltd., which focuses on the development, production and sales of on-site wastewater treatment plants.

"We're continuing the globalization of our economy," Del. Brian Moran (D-Fairfax Co., Alexandria), said during the fourth day of the mission. "This technology can be a great benefit to [Virginia], particularly with the struggling economy," said Moran, another candidate for governor in 2009.

Moran said he would look to bring back clean water technologies for civilian and military use. The manufacture of these goods, he said, could boost job growth in the state.

"We want [Israeli business and enterprise] to expand into Virginia," Whipple, who's on her second trip to the country, said.

This trip comes on the heels of a trade agreement signed last week by Gov. Timothy Kaine (D) and Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor. The deal is set to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Virginia and Israel on private sector industrial research and development.

Lawmakers also explained that it was important for them to understand Israel's security concerns and how they could potentially affect Virginia.

"People here everyday live with the expectancy of the unexpected," Deeds said. "Just being here helps me to understand the security issues -- you can't read about it or hear about it," he said. "You have to experience it."

The common sight of soldiers nonchalantly walking down the streets with loaded weapons particularly took Deeds by surprise. "I'm not sure that's a sight I'll ever feel comfortable with," he said.

Del. Jeffrey Frederick (R-Prince William) explained how standing on the Golan Heights, not far from "where Hezbollah terrorists" had been, "really hits you."

Frederick, whose mother is from Colombia, South America, said he is familiar with terrorism and how visiting a place where it's taken place can change one's perception.

"It's much different to actually be there rather than read [about it]," he said.

From the moment they landed, officials on the trip were whisked from place to place. In addition to their visit to the Golan Heights, they spent time in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Masada, and met numerous Israelis, from Yossi Alpher, a former official of the Mossad and the current director of the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies at the Tel Aviv University, to Kobi Marom, a retired colonel and former Northern Brigade Commander for the Israel Defense Forces, and IDF soldiers.

Linick said the JCRC had invited a "large group of officials," with the response so strong that a few had to be turned away. Eleven participated in the mission, along with JCRC staffers and lay leaders.

"We're taking folks we think have a large voice" in government and share the JCRC's values of promoting public policy issues that are important to the local Jewish community.

Well into their third day of the trip, during the initial interviews, some lawmakers said their experiences have altered their perception of Israel, mostly created by the media.

"People in Israel are peace loving," Deeds said. "That's the overwhelming perspective zooming through."

On the other hand, Frederick said his notions of the country were reinforced.

"It has not changed what I was already aware of," he said, saying that he has always been a "big Israel supporter."