VP hopeful Portman speaks about recent trip to Israel

Sen. Rob Portman on Israel

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Sen. Rob Portman speaking at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference

By Melissa Weiss, Staff Writer

Washington, June 14 – Israel is an island of stability in the Middle East, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said at a policy lunch in Washington Thursday.

“The region is more dangerous than ever,” Portman, who last week returned from a trip to the Middle East, said during a press gaggle after speaking during the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference’s kickoff reception. “If you look at Israel’s borders, they are all more volatile and dangerous.”

While in the Middle East, the Republican vice presidential hopeful met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Today in Washington, he said he hoped that Israel’s recent political changes will impact the stalled peace process.

“There’s an opportunity with the new coalition government to work with the Palestinian Authority toward a two-state solution and peace talks that would help to stabilize that region in order, frankly, to be in a better position to deal with these larger regional dangers.”

Also speaking at the FFC’s kickoff luncheon were Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

The luncheon featured a presentation by Joe Kaufman, a representative from Friends for Israel. Kaufman introduced Friends for Israel’s newest creative initiative, a collection of new signatures as a tribute to Israel’s Declaration of Independence, and FCC head Ralph Reed signed his name on the project. A past Friends for Israel project included the signatures of many notable world leaders, including U.S. presidents and Israeli prime ministers.

Kaufman, a Republican candidate in Florida’s 20^th Congressional District, will face a fall battle against fellow Israel supporter, Democratic incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz.