Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to visit China, his spokesman announced on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister’s Office took pains to emphasize that the visit is not meant to be a message to US President Joe Biden, who has declined to invite Netanyahu to the White House.
The leadership in Beijing invited Netanyahu earlier this year, and the Prime Minister’s Office said he plans to visit, though a date has not been set.
The prime minister updated the Biden administration a month ago, and he told members of the US House Armed Services Committee who met with him on Tuesday.“Netanyahu clarified to the members of Congress that the security and intelligence cooperation between the US and Israel are at their greatest height of all times and emphasized that the US will always be a vital, irreplaceable ally of Israel,” spokesman Topaz Luk said.A source with knowledge of the matter said the plans are “very preliminary,” and that Netanyahu is “making sure to send a message of cooperation and partnership with the US” at the same time.
Washington has criticized Jerusalem’s relationship with Beijing in recent years. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have encouraged Israel to keep Chinese companies from building essential infrastructure and investing in technologies that could be security risks.The plan to visit Beijing comes as Biden has yet to invite Netanyahu to the White House, implying in public statements that it is due to the government’s judicial reform policies. There has also been increased tension with Washington of late over the advancing of Israeli homes in Judea and Samaria.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to visit the White House and speak before both houses of Congress next month.The Institute for National Security Studies Managing Director Maj.-Gen. (res.) Tamir Hayman argued that Netanyahu’s visit is “a serious mistake” at this time.
Tamir Hayman: Netanyahu visit to china is a 'serious mistake'
The Institute for National Security Studies Managing Director Maj.-Gen. (res.) Tamir Hayman argued that Netanyahu’s visit is “a serious mistake” at this time.
“If there is one thing that irritates the American administration, it is... an Israeli attempt to juggle between the US and its competitors, primarily China,” Hayman said. “Today, when the US is in global competition with China, this is also bad timing from a strategic point of view. China is a country that takes advantage of opportunities and it will see this invitation as another small victory over the US. China will not stop here and strive to increase its influence on Israel, which will worsen Israel’s tension with the US.”
Carice Witte, executive director of SIGNAL – Sino-Israel Global Network and Academic Leadership, said the trip is “a smart and good thing” if it is meant to address bilateral issues.
“If there have been behind the scenes discussions regarding Iran’s increased aggression since the China brokered Saudi-Iran deal or how [China’s Global Security Initiative] might affect Israel and the wider Middle East, that will be a worthwhile trip,” she said.Witte said Israel has what to offer China: “It would also be great if the prime minister were going to Beijing to explore the possibility of bringing critical water solutions to address China’s massive flash droughts.“However,” she added, “if the trip is a reaction to Netanyahu’s relations with the Biden administration... it does not make sense... An invitation by any other leader of a nation does not compare with that of the US because of the broad and significant relationship that provides important benefits for both countries as well as critical support for Israel such as the US veto in the UN Security Council.”Netanyahu and the members of Congress also discussed the Iranian nuclear threat and artificial intelligence with the delegation. He thanked them for their “support for Israel and unequivocal commitment to Israel’s security,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.The members of Congress met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a day earlier. Gallant tweeted that they “discussed the viral need to expand security ties between Israel and the US and the ways to promote military cooperation.”Gallant “thanked them for their commitment to ensuring the special bond between our countries and promoting critical defense and military cooperation.”Reps. Jimmy Panetta of California and Dough Lamborn of Colorado led the AIPAC-organized delegation. Other members of Congress in the group were Reps. Jim Baird of Indiana, Ami Bera of California, Jake Elizey of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, and Barry Moore of Alabama.Lamborn tweeted that he “will continue to support a strong working relationship with Israel and never waver from [his] commitment.”