Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, Israel-China relations have steadily prospered. Beijing's support of the PLO faded, and China became a significant investor in Israeli startups and infrastructure. This growing relationship led to the 2017 "Innovative Comprehensive Partnership," making China one of Israel's largest trading partners. However, this relationship has come under stress due to China's criticism of Israel and reluctance to condemn Hamas, which it claims defends the two-state solution. Following Hamas' attack on Israel, China asserted that Israel's actions in Gaza went "beyond self-defense" and demanded an end to "group punishment" on Palestinians, still refusing to condemn Hamas. Israeli officials believe China's stance stems from the U.S.-China rivalry and Beijing's aim to undermine Washington's power. China's involvement in the Middle East could impact Israel's position by empowering Iran and its proxies. In this lecture, Dr. Rabil will examine Israel-China relations, considering the Ukraine War and the U.S.-China (and Russia) rivalry, and explore the implications of China's stance on Israel's national security.
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Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture. You will have approximately two weeks to view the video.