Netanyahu lashed out at China; Beijing responded diplomatically
Netanyahu lashed out at China; Beijing responded diplomatically
Amid the costly Gaza war and increased diplomatic pressure against Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial remarks about China’s role in the political siege of this regime have sparked unprecedented tension between Beijing and Tel Aviv.
The claim not only faced a harsh reaction from the Chinese embassy in Israel but also provided a platform for Beijing to express explicit criticisms of Israel’s regional policies, especially regarding the Palestinians.
In this report, Saeed Aganji, editor-in-chief of the Irangate News Agency, examines the dimensions of this new crisis, its diplomatic consequences, and clear signs of a change in China’s tone in dealing with Israel’s Middle East policies.
China is deeply concerned about Netanyahu’s claim that the country is trying to politically isolate Israel. The Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv called the Israeli Prime Minister’s remarks baseless and said they undermine bilateral relations and, quoting a proverb, advised Israel to change its policies to improve its global position and achieve peace.
On Thursday, China condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that Beijing is helping to organize a political siege against Israel, stating that this claim has no basis in reality. The Chinese embassy in Israel, in an English-language statement published on its website, wrote that China is shocked by the Israeli leader’s remarks. This claim is baseless, harms China-Israel relations, and is a matter of deep concern for China, which strongly opposes it.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu accused China and Qatar of organizing an attack against Israel through social media in the Western world and the United States during a meeting with a large delegation of American officials.
He then told the Israeli network i24News that there is currently an effort to impose a siege on Israel by various institutions and countries, led by Qatar, primarily a media siege funded with large sums by Qatar and other countries like China.
The Chinese embassy criticized these remarks in its statement, saying that it is Israel’s policies that shape the global view of the country.
In attributing social media criticisms to China, Israel is like a patient who has lost hope in treatment and turns to every doctor but misdiagnoses the source of the problem and, worse, receives the wrong prescription.
The embassy further referenced a Chinese proverb that says to stop the pot from boiling, one must remove the firewood, not just scrape the bottom.
The embassy explained that this proverb shows that to truly solve a problem, one must address its root, not just alleviate its symptoms, and made this statement in relation to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Pursuing security at the expense of others is not a solution; only shared security can bring lasting peace and eliminate the grounds for violence and hatred.
China added that Israel’s legitimate security concerns should be respected, and the right of Palestinians to exist, form a state, and develop should also be preserved.
We urge Israel to listen to the strong will of the international community, cease military operations in Gaza, reach a full and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, and prevent a broader humanitarian crisis.
The statement also noted that a large part of the international community has called for a ceasefire in the war against Hamas in Gaza and criticized Netanyahu’s policies. Solving Israel’s current crisis requires political wisdom and creative diplomacy, not just military operations and endless bombings.
The results of unilateral votes in the United Nations and other multilateral bodies on issues related to Palestine clearly show the position of the majority of the global community.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a devastating massacre in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
As the war drags on, Israel has faced increasing international condemnation due to civilian casualties in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian conditions.
The Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, says over 64,000 people have been killed or are missing in the region during the conflicts, although these figures cannot be verified and do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Israel says it has killed over 22,000 fighters in battles up to August and also neutralized 1,600 terrorists during the October 7 attack inside Israel.
Israel has announced that it is working to minimize civilian casualties and emphasizes that Hamas uses Gaza civilians as human shields, fighting in residential areas, including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.
