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U.S.-Israel Relations in the Age of Great Power Competition

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Assaf Orion - Some Americans complain that Israel is too friendly to China and coming under its sway in light of the major projects Chinese companies have built in Israel. Israel long ago made the choice that its irreplaceable strategic ally is the U.S. However, that doesn't preclude economic ties with China. America itself has such ties in abundance. Critics described the operation of a part of Haifa Bay port by a Chinese company as a severe security risk. But the container wharf cannot serve China's navy. Israel's security agencies enjoy wide inspection authorities there against espionage threats. A port call by the U.S. Fifth Fleet's USS O'Kane in October showed that the U.S. Navy is satisfied with the security of the port. China is not Israel's enemy. Israel's policy should combine supporting the U.S. and taking America's concerns seriously, while having fruitful, selective and safe economic relations with China. The writer is a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University and a fellow with The Washington Institute.
2022-02-10 00:00:00
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