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In March 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described his country’s bilateral relationship with the superpower as one of the happiness of marriage.
At that time, former US President Donald Trump occupied the White House. The United States is still months away from officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Criticism of illegal settlement construction in the West Bank has almost disappeared, and Washington is adopting a policy of aggression against Israel’s main rival, Iran.
“I believe this is a marriage made in heaven,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying at the time.
But he is not talking about Washington, but arguably one of the most pro-Israel American governments in history. He is talking about China.
In the past two decades, China and Israel have established a close relationship based on investment and economic ties. In doing so, they managed to transcend serious regional differences and priorities.
The United States is Israel’s strongest and most steadfast supporter, and China is Washington’s biggest opponent. Beijing also has ties to Iran and bills itself as a staunch supporter of Palestine, which has been embroiled in decades of conflict.
But facts have proved that the rewards of turning a blind eye to geopolitical differences are substantial. The trade volume between the two countries has grown from approximately US$1 billion at the turn of the century to just over US$11.2 billion in 2019. China is currently Israel’s second largest trading partner after the United States.
Experts say these common interests help explain why Israel ignored China’s solidarity with Palestine and why Beijing’s leaders were cautious in addressing Israel’s excessive use of force against Palestinians, including the recent 11-day bombing of Gaza. Beyond words. At least 254 people were killed, including 66 children.
Closer connection, change attitude
Like many countries, Israel is eager to enter China’s huge market and benefits from Beijing’s hobby of investing heavily in infrastructure projects.
At the same time, China sees Israel as another key to the “Belt and Road” initiative to project and deepen its economic and political power. Israel’s strategic location in the Mediterranean is a high-income country with an innovative economy—an aspect that Beijing cherishes.
“China’s main interest in Israel is advanced technology,” Zhang Chuchu, deputy director of the Center for Middle East Studies at Fudan University, told Al Jazeera.
A study conducted by the RAND Corporation of 92 business transactions conducted by Chinese state-owned companies in Israel between 2011 and 2018 found that most of the investment—approximately US$5.7 billion—flowed to the Israeli technology industry.
Shira Efron, an Israeli expert at RAND, told Al Jazeera that he generously supports China’s image in Israel.
“In the eyes of Israel, China is a country full of new opportunities,” he said.
A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2019 found that the vast majority of Israelis (about 66%) have a positive view of China. The positive emotions of young people under 30 are even higher, with more than three-quarters of people saying they have a good impression of Beijing.
Symbolic position
While investing a lot of money in Israel, China is also trying to maintain its historical image as a staunch supporter of Palestine by taking a symbolic stand on certain issues.
In 2017, China banned its nationals from participating in illegal settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, even though Chinese contractors are busy developing infrastructure projects in Israel.
Last month, people adopted more symbolic tactics about the Gaza war.
In the eyes of Israel, China is a country full of new opportunities.
China, which assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council in May, tried to issue resolutions condemning violence and calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-these efforts were blocked by the United States.
Shortly before Egypt and Qatar brought about a ceasefire in the conflict, Beijing offered to host Israeli and Palestinian representatives for peace talks and proposed a four-point peace plan calling for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. status.
But some experts believe that China’s efforts are purely selfish.
Lucille Greer, a scholar at the Wilson Center, described Beijing’s remarks as “model documents.”
“They don’t even bother to launch a new [peace plan] Proposal,” she told Al Jazeera, noting that the blueprint was originally released in 2013 and is in line with the blueprint proposed by Arab countries.
She added: “They benefited from the proposed mediation, but the parties did not realize that it was serious.”
Zhang said that, in fact, China’s hard-line stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not good, but it is more willing to use it to discredit Washington.
“The purpose is to gain points on the global stage by exposing and criticizing the double standards of the United States in the Middle East,” Zhang said.
Chinese diplomats to the United Nations eagerly called on the United States to block their ceasefire proposal. According to reports, some people used it to describe the United States’ support for Muslims as empty.
Washington actively opposed China’s human rights record, and the administration of US President Joe Biden called Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims “genocide.”
They got the benefits of proposing mediation, but the parties did not realize that it was serious.
Open one eye and close one eye
The Israeli leaders did not pay too much attention to China’s response to the Gaza War. Efron said that in Tel Aviv, the Gaza War was seen more as a “verbal promise” than a real promise.
But this does not mean that this relationship is not without risks. Efron said that establishing a closer relationship between Israel and Beijing may sacrifice its own security and Washington’s unwavering support.
This year, the Chinese company Shanghai International Port Group will take over part of the port of Haifa on Israel’s Mediterranean coast.
The decision to award the contract to a Chinese company caused strong protests in the United States, which raised concerns about the espionage activities of the US Sixth Fleet at the port of call.
Other Chinese projects in Israel have also attracted people’s attention because they have given Beijing and the United States’ closest friends in China and ASEAN more opportunities to access infrastructure and technology.
China Communications Construction Corporation, a state-owned enterprise accused of establishing spy stations in South America and dredging islands in the South China Sea, is the leading company in the construction of the Port of Ashdod in Israel.
Another Chinese state-owned enterprise, China Railway Tunnel Group, has obtained a concession for the construction of the Tel Aviv light rail section. The company also has operations in Iran.
“Israel underestimated the risks to its internal security,” Efron said. “This is not a priority,”
She believes that government officials ignore the risks of cyber espionage, surveillance and intellectual property theft, and they are more concerned about direct threats to the country and their desire to attract foreign investment.
Israel underestimated the risks to its domestic security.
Perhaps the most surprising thing is that China’s decision to sign a 25-year strategic agreement with Iran has caused little protest from Israel. Chinese companies that do business in Iran continue to do business in Israel.
ZTE is an example of how China’s “zero enemy” policy in the Middle East has complicated Israel and its technology industry.
In 2015, the telecommunications company invested in Rainbow Medical, an Israeli technology company. Although the United States stated in 2012 that ZTE’s sale of surveillance equipment to Iran violated sanctions, the transaction passed.
Al Jazeera asked the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs about ZTE’s business activities in Iran and other Chinese companies.
Spokesperson Lior Haiat said that Israel would check the activities of foreign companies when needed, adding: “Israel is working to strengthen its economic and global connections and diversify its foreign investment.”
Greer said that Israel is currently unlikely to allow China’s remarks on the Palestine issue or its relationship with Iran to undermine economic relations. But one day, Beijing may have to abandon its “zero enemy” policy and be forced to choose between Iran or Israel.
If circumstances force Israel to choose between Beijing and Washington, the same situation may happen to Israel.
“In the short term it is sustainable. Gaza is a test,” Greer said, “but will it work in 10 to 15 years?”
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