ISRAEL AND CHINA

Israel-China relations have exhibited a cyclical nature, where their ups and downs have nevertheless shown a positive trend. Arguably, the recurring waves of progress, halt and recovery and expansion that characterize China-Israel relations are neither coincidental nor unrelated, but are a structural outcome of the relations’ fundamental features: their subjection to the dynamic of China-US relations. For this reason, since the late 2010s China-Israel relations have experienced a negative trend. Yet, during the preceding period they had expanded to such a degree that Israel can be expected to keep investing substantial political resources in the relationship to limit their deterioration, hedge against potential negative consequences of China’s involvement in the Middle East and make sure to respect China’s red lines.