Michael Turton prefaces a look at Israeli arms and related technologies to China with this comment.:
Many years ago, when I was working for an independence-related organization in Washington DC, I asked one of Stephen Solarz’ staffers why the Jewish Congressman from New York City was so interested in Taiwan affairs. The staffer replied that the Congressman, long a friend of the island and one of its most influential Congressional supporters during the 1980s, saw Taiwan and Israel as small nations threatened by mighty numbers from without, and needing the support of great powers, two examples of the same case, moral commitments both. One could not be honored without the other also being honored.
It is thus hard to see Israeli arms sales to China — most recently upgrades for China’s drones — as anything but the most extreme perfidy.
Perfidy may be a bit harsh, as well as one of those words that sends people to a dictionary, but Israel’s move to get closer to China militarily and diplomatically is an exceptionally short-sighted one. While China has become a bigger arms market than Taiwan in unadjusted terms, Israel’s best interest has been and will continue to be in maintaining a warm relationship with Washington. Cuddling up to Beijing is not going to win it another ally on the Security Council.
June 22nd, 2005 at 3:40 pm
Perdify is a proper word, but Washington is quite an hypocrite in this manner. How much is their arms sale to Israel’s enemies (who have actual declaration of wars against it) like Saudi Arabia, and also to the likes of Egypt who have been keeping precious few of its obligation under the peace treaty with Israel.
If US can engage in such, especially with Saudi Arabia which is measuredly more totalitarian than China (at least Chinese women are subjects of an totalitarian government, not property of their male next-of-kin), what moral ground does it stand on to protest Israel’s military trade with Beijing?.
June 22nd, 2005 at 11:37 pm
Rajan,
You make fair statements above, but let’s put things into perspective.
While the US government does allow the sale of such weapons to nations like Saudi Arabia (why I do not know), who is the only principle ally that Israel has? Does the US not blindly support Israel?
I think the US gives more to Israel than it receives in return. How many Israelis are serving in Iraq?
Has the US ever sank any Israel naval ships?
Would Israel even exist without the support of the US?
The last time I checked, China supported the “Palestinians” and were very vocal in their condemnation of Israeli “aggression”, but the United States seems to be the only country going up to bat for these turkeys.
And for the record, I’m not an anti-semitist. There are those out there who think that if you question anything Israel does, you are a damn Nazi.