L.A. mayor calls visit to Qassam-battered town Sderot 'inspiring'

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met on Sunday with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, both in Israel this week.

Villaraigosa, on his first trip to Israel as mayor, visited the Qassam-battered town of Sderot and called it an 'inspiring' experience.

"In 15 years of public life, I've had a long relationship with Jewish leaders and the state of Israel," he said. "Meeting with the students and seeing the resilience and their attempts at normalcy while withstanding the barrage of rocket attacks - it was inspiring."

Villaraigosa, on a seven-day trip to the Israel, handed the prime minister a jersey of L.A. Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant during their talks.

Villaraigosa called himself a longtime friend of the prime minister and said the gift reflects that there is no better ambassador for the city of Los Angeles than Kobe Bryant.

The mayor also met Sunday with a string of Israeli leaders. He is leading a delegation of 40 people and will meet with terror experts, water conservation experts and environmentalists.

Villaraigosa, on his first visit to Israel as mayor, signed an agreement to bring Israeli security experts to come and inspect his city's international airport.

New Mexico Governor Richardson, a a former diplomat and presidential candidate, discussed with Olmert the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian peace efforts, according to a statement from the prime minister's office.

The PMO said the two also talked about increasing cooperation between Israel and New Mexico.

Richardson was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. President. After he dropped out of the race, he endorsed Senator Barack Obama in April. Richardson's support was seen as a key element in Obama's eventual victory over Senator Hillary Clinton.