Rob Portman to address Republican Jewish Coalition

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman is traveling to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others.

(Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer Publishing Co.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Rob Portman says he will fly tonight to Israel for meetings over the next few days, including one with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Ohio Republican called it a "fact-finding trip" and said he wants to "hear first-hand from our embassy in Israel, but also the Israeli government."

"We're going to focus on the security situation," Portman said, mentioning Syria, Iran and the "volatility in that region of the world right now. It's an opportunity also for me to reiterate the importance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship as well as the importance of preventing a nuclear Iran."

Portman said he also wants to discuss a global movement to boycott Israel and isolate it economically.

"I'm going to talk more about that with our Israeli allies and find out how we can be a better economic partner with Israel to stop these politically motivated boycotts," Portman said.