RIORDAN PLANS TRIP TO ISRAEL : DELEGATION TO REINFORCE BUSINESS, CULTURAL TIES.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Mayor Richard Riordan announced plans Monday to lead a business and cultural delegation to Israel next month to commemorate Jerusalem's 3,000 years of history.

``As two of the most diverse cities in the world, we are committed to a peaceful, productive future for our children and share an ongoing wish for peace among all peoples and all nations,'' Riordan said in a statement.

``Los Angeles and Israel have enjoyed strong ties for many decades and it is important to continue to strengthen that bond.''

The journey also comes at a time when Riordan is gearing up for his re-election effort next year and is actively courting support in the Jewish community against a possible challenge by Rep. Howard L. Berman, D-Mission Hills.

Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political science professor at Claremont Graduate School Center for Politics and Policy, said it was a trip that Riordan needs to make for political reasons.

``It's a good investment for him politically with Jewish activists and contributors,'' Jeffe said. ``This is one of the very important pilgrimages that a politician must take.''

Riordan had been invited by Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and Israeli Consul General Yoram Ben-Ze'ev on behalf of Israel to visit the country.

The mayor said he will be accompanied by about three dozen people of different backgrounds and faiths for the Aug. 31-Sept. 9 trip. The journey is being coordinated by the Israeli Consulate and several local community organizations.

Riordan said the preliminary itinerary includes meetings with Israeli President Ezer Weizman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, as well as leaders of the Palestinian Authority.

Other sessions call for meetings with leading Israelis in the fields of education, culture and commerce.

``Los Angeles and Israel are two of the multicultural centers of the world,'' Riordan said. ``I look forward to sharing some of our successes and I hope to bring home some lessons from Israel.''

Jerusalem 3000 is a 15-month-long celebration of the city's history and its commemoration of being united under King David. Plans are under way to meet with former Los Angeles residents now living in Israel.

Among those expected to join Riordan on the trip include Herb Gelfand, incoming president of the Jewish Federation; Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, a former police commissioner and regional director of the American Jewish Committee; Police Commissioner Bert Boeckmann and his wife, Jane; Recreation and Parks Commission chairman Steve Soboroff; Joe Hicks of the Multi-Cultural Collaborative; La Opinion publisher Jose Lozano; Korea Times publisher Jay Min Chang; and Cal State Northridge President Blenda Wilson.

All of those going will be paying their own expenses, Riordan said.

Riordan has not traveled extensively on official business outside the city, with most of his trips being lobbying efforts to Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. His only other foreign trips were to Ireland with President Clinton and a trade mission to Asia cut short by the O.J. Simpson verdict.