NEW YORK — NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, also known as CoJo, is heading a week-long mission to Israel next week to participate in Israel’s 70th-anniversary celebration. Other members of the delegation include Councilman Chaim Deutsch, Chair of the NYC Jewish Caucus, and Councilmembers Stephen Levin, Karen Koslowitz, Francisco Moya, Carlina Rivera, Rafael Espinal, Ritchie Torres, Alika Ampry-Samuel, and Justin Brannan.

In addition to attending Israel’s Yom Haatzmuat celebrations in Tel Aviv, the delegation will visit the Western Wall, tour Israel’s northern and southern borders, meet with Israel’s Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, religious and tech leaders, Palestinian opinion makers, according to sources with knowledge of the tour itinerary. Johnson will also meet with Israeli LGBT leader Russell Lord.

This is Johnson’s 3rd trip to Israel as an elected official. He visited Israel in 2015 and in 2017.

“New York and Israel have strong ties, but I do not take our relationship for granted. I am traveling to Israel to learn more about the culture and economic opportunities, and to meet with civic, government and business leaders,” Johnson told Jewish Insider. “It is a tradition for members of the New York City Council to visit Israel and I am proud to continue it. I am excited to learn more about Israel, and I am convinced we will walk away with the knowledge and connections to make our existing partnership even stronger.”

The trip is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of New York, a 501c3 that has led annual trips for elected officials and business leaders in the past, and has been approved by City Council lawyers, according to officials in the Speaker’s office.