China currently stands as Israel’s second-largest trading partner behind the US
In March 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described his country’s bilateral relationship with China as “I believe this is a marriage made in heaven”
Over the last two decades, China and Israel have built a close relationship based on investments and economic ties. In doing so, they have managed to look beyond serious regional differences and priorities.
The US is Israel’s most powerful and steadfast supporter, and China is Washington’s biggest rival. Beijing also has ties to Iran and styles itself as a staunch supporter of Palestine, with which Israel has been embroiled in a decades-long conflict.
Despite Beijing styling itself as a supporter of Palestine, China and Israel have built a close economic relationship.
Turning a blind eye to geopolitical differences has paid off for Israel and China, with the value of trade between the two countries growing from roughly $1bn at the turn of the century to a little over $11.2bn in 2019
Those mutual interests, say experts, help explain why Israel has looked past China’s vocal support for Palestine, and why leaders in Beijing are cautious to go beyond rhetoric when addressing Israel’s disproportionate use of force against Palestinians.
Closer ties, changing attitudes
Israel, like many countries, is eager for access to China’s massive market and to benefit from Beijing’s penchant for splashing around big money on infrastructure projects.
“China’s principal interest in Israel is advanced technology,” Chuchu Zhang, deputy director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told Al Jazeera.
A study by the RAND Corporation of 92 business deals in Israel by Chinese state-owned firms between 2011 and 2018 found that the lion’s share of investment – some $5.7bn – went to Israel’s technology sector.
“In Israeli eyes, China is a country of new opportunity,” - Shira Efron
Turning a blind eye
Israeli leaders have not paid much attention to China’s response to the Gaza war
This year Chinese company Shanghai International Port Group will take over management of a portion of Haifa Port on Israel’s Mediterranean coast.
The decision to award the contract to a Chinese firm elicited howls of protests from the US, which raised concerns about espionage at a port where the US Sixth Fleet docks.
The China Communications Construction Company, a state-owned firm that has been accused of building spy stations in South America and dredging islands in the South China Sea, is the company leading construction of Israel’s Ashdod Port.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/6/7/chinas-ties-with-israel-are-tested-by-gaza-but-not-sorely
In March 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described his country’s bilateral relationship with China as “I believe this is a marriage made in heaven”
Over the last two decades, China and Israel have built a close relationship based on investments and economic ties. In doing so, they have managed to look beyond serious regional differences and priorities.
The US is Israel’s most powerful and steadfast supporter, and China is Washington’s biggest rival. Beijing also has ties to Iran and styles itself as a staunch supporter of Palestine, with which Israel has been embroiled in a decades-long conflict.
Despite Beijing styling itself as a supporter of Palestine, China and Israel have built a close economic relationship.
Turning a blind eye to geopolitical differences has paid off for Israel and China, with the value of trade between the two countries growing from roughly $1bn at the turn of the century to a little over $11.2bn in 2019
Those mutual interests, say experts, help explain why Israel has looked past China’s vocal support for Palestine, and why leaders in Beijing are cautious to go beyond rhetoric when addressing Israel’s disproportionate use of force against Palestinians.
Closer ties, changing attitudes
Israel, like many countries, is eager for access to China’s massive market and to benefit from Beijing’s penchant for splashing around big money on infrastructure projects.
“China’s principal interest in Israel is advanced technology,” Chuchu Zhang, deputy director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told Al Jazeera.
A study by the RAND Corporation of 92 business deals in Israel by Chinese state-owned firms between 2011 and 2018 found that the lion’s share of investment – some $5.7bn – went to Israel’s technology sector.
“In Israeli eyes, China is a country of new opportunity,” - Shira Efron
Turning a blind eye
Israeli leaders have not paid much attention to China’s response to the Gaza war
This year Chinese company Shanghai International Port Group will take over management of a portion of Haifa Port on Israel’s Mediterranean coast.
The decision to award the contract to a Chinese firm elicited howls of protests from the US, which raised concerns about espionage at a port where the US Sixth Fleet docks.
The China Communications Construction Company, a state-owned firm that has been accused of building spy stations in South America and dredging islands in the South China Sea, is the company leading construction of Israel’s Ashdod Port.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/6/7/chinas-ties-with-israel-are-tested-by-gaza-but-not-sorely
