NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell led a group of U.S. mayors on a four-day trip to Israel earlier this week as part of a joint program between the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

AJC’s Project Interchange aims to enhance Americans’ understanding of politics in the Middle East by sponsoring trips to Israel for mayoral delegations, who meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, academics, and experts.

“Although this is the USCM’s fourth mayoral delegation to Israel, the issues in the region today are more relevant than ever to Americans,” Mitchell said. “I believe that it is important for mayors, as the leaders of their cities, to take opportunities like this to deepen their understanding of a situation that, as everyone can agree, is complicated and difficult.”

Mitchell was joined by Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Daniel Rickman and Gresham, Oregon Mayor Travis Stovall, as well as USCM and AJC officials.

Read more at wpri.com.