Israel Matzav

Time for Israel to get real about hostile countries

Turkey has changed, however. Even if we put aside the Turkish prime minister’s anti-Semitism, Turkey seeks to have zero problems among its neighbors. With neighbors such as Syria and Iran, however, zero problems means accepting antagonism toward the Jewish state. Nor would anything Israel could do or say ever match the $30 billion trade with Iran which Turkey now seeks. Turkey wishes to court Iran and the Arab world, and it is willing to do this at the expense of Israel, no matter what Israel does. Any Israeli apology would not alter the balance and would simply put Israel deeper down into a hole.

Israel makes the same mistake in its approach to China. While Israel bends over backwards to court China as a hedge against Chinese outreach to Iran, Syria, and Israel’s other mortal enemies, when it comes to appeasing China, the Israeli government is simply fulfilling a Sisyphean role. The Chinese government is cold, calculating, and guided by its pocket book, not by principle. No amount of fulfillment of Chinese demands, especially on the technology front, will ever change Chinese behavior. When push comes to shove, China will always side with Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Syria. It will drop Israel like a hot potato if it means the promise of a better oil deal with even a tiny Arab regime.

Rather than apologizing or trying to ingratiate itself to dictatorships, Israel must recognize reality: Its diplomatic efforts would be better guided to solidifying its relationships with democracies and other states who share its values. Israel could do much more to court Taiwan, India, and could finally exploit the mystique it holds in countries like Korea and even Indonesia. Kissing up to hostile countries is never going to be a sound basis for Israeli security, nor is a headlong quest to live in the past ever wise.

Labels: China, India, realism, Taiwan, Turkey

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:32 PM