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ABSTRACT
Its close alliance with the West over the course of seven decades notwithstanding, Israel has embarked on an East-looking orientation during the past several years. Aiming to cultivate multifaceted connections to various Asian countries, the new Israeli approach has striven to enhance the Jewish state’s relationship with the East in the political, military, economic, financial, technological, and cultural spheres. For their part, many Asian states have displayed a keen desire to expand their growing interactions with Israel, smoothing the way for the success of Israel’s East-looking drive.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. Adelman, The Rise of Israel, 77.
2. Keinon, “Israel is Clearly Pivoting to Asia.”
3. Tal, Israeli Identity; and Mahler, Politics and Government in Israel, 77.
4. Pollock, “Israel’s National Unity.”
5. Gordon, “Israel in Asia?”
6. Petras, The Power of Israel; and Mearsheimer and Walt, “Is It Love or the Lobby?”
7. Marzano, “The Loneliness of Israel.”
8. Walzer, A Foreign Policy for the Left, 52.
9. Schilling, Emotional State Theory, 88.
10. Freilich, Zion’s Dilemmas, 69.
11. “China ‘Devastated’ by Continuing Palestine–Israel Conflict: FM.” Xinhua. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/201407/29/c_133518689.htm.
12. Garfinkle, Politics and Society in Modern Israel, 210.
13. Abadi, Israel’s Quest for Recognition, 97, 124.
14. Freilich, 57.
15. Blarel, “Assessing US Influence.”
16. Dunst, “Israel Retains Warm Ties.”
17. Deivasagayam, “Malaysia not Alone in Boycotting Israel.”
18. After all, the Philippines was the only Asian country which voted in favour of UN Resolution 181 that led to the creation of the state of Israel.
19. Keinon, “In First Visit Ever by Singapore PM.”
20. Freilich, “Can Israel Survive without America?”
21. Tyler, Fortress Israel, 8–9.
22. Garfinkle.
23. “Philippines’ Duterte Eyes Arms Deals on Israel Trip.” Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1532714/philippines-duterte-eyes-arms-deals-on-israel-trip.
24. Goldstein, “The Republic of China and Israel”; and Azad, “Unknown and Undetected.”
25. Segal, “Chinese Economic Statecraft and the Political Economy”; and Kim, “S. Korea Pushes.”
26. Shichor, “Israel’s Military Transfers to China and Taiwan”; and Schilling, “The Problem of Romanticising Israel–Taiwan Relations.”
27. Freilich, 310; and Oren, Ally.
28. Melman, “China is Spying on Israel to Steal U.S. Secrets.”
29. Rosenberg, Israel’s Technology Economy.
30. In 2018, for example, China and Israel agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Innovation Partnership. Benmeleh, “Israel’s Tech Industry.”
31. Shamah, “Chinese Business Delegation.”
32. Cohen, “Israel Welcomes Tech-hungry Chinese Investors.”
33. Recent trade disputes between Washington and Beijing may also drive China towards more high-tech investments in Israel.
34. Evron, “Between Beijing and Washington.”
35. Freilich, Israeli National Security.
36. Rabinovitch, “Looking East.”
37. Shamah, “Chinese Billionaires to Bring their Wallets.”
38. Cohen, “Israel–China Ties Are a Very Good Thing.”
39. Mahler, 91; and Thies, The United States, Israel, and the Search for International Order.
40. Data taken from The Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) available at: https://www.cbs.gov.il/.
41. “China is Fed up with Israel’s Negligence at Construction Sites.” Haaretz. Accessed 3 December 2018. https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/china-is-fed-up-with-israel-s-negligence-at-construction-sites-1.6134996.
42. “61% of Foreign Workers in Israel from Asia.” Khmer Times. Accessed 12 February 2018. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/517936/61-of-foreign-workers-in-israel-from-asia/.
43. While citing security concerns, the Chinese did not want their nationals to get involved in the controversial business of building Jewish West Bank residences, and this is a reason why Israel had to eventually accede to such demand to persuade China sign the deal. The actual number of Chinese workers who later entered Israel fell short of the original figure of 20,000. Reed, “Israel Rights Groups Attack Plan.”
44. Huang, “As China Warms Up to Israel.”
45. Halon, “Chinese Infrastructure Giants.”
46. Ben-David, “From China with ‘Ahava’.”
47. Cohen, “Israel is Looking East.”
48. Kamin, “With Bollywood Glamour and Chinese Stars.”
49. “Israel Sees Tourism Growth from China, India.” Reuters. Accessed 31 March 2016. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-tourism-idUSKCN0WX1C0; and Kamin, “How Israel is Courting Tourists.”
50. Yeh, “Taiwan–Israel Youth Program”; and Al-Sudairi, “An Israeli Lobby in China?”
51. Kang, “What We Can Learn from Israelis.”
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Shirzad Azad
Shirzad Azad is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.