Shared democratic values, commerce, tourism, and cooperation explain why Israel is a close U.S. ally. Nevertheless, Israel’s deepening relationship with China is incompatible with American interests. It requires the Trump administration’s repudiation.
To be specific, if Israel continues closely engaging with China, the U.S. must reduce its military, intelligence, and technology engagement with Israel’s government. That would be a big step, but this concern is very real. As the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday, the U.S. Navy is increasingly concerned over China’s construction of Haifa port. China has pumped vast sums into that project and the U.S. Navy fears, very understandably, that the Chinese will use it as a base for intelligence operations. In response, the Navy may suspend port visits to Haifa after China assumes control of port operations. Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
More concerning than Haifa is the increasingly close relationship between Israeli high-technology industries and China. China will use this access to gain proprietary software and hardware, including U.S. based research and development. Again, that access is fundamentally incompatible with U.S. interests. And it reflects broader American concerns that U.S. military technologies provided to Israel, such as the F-35 strike fighter, might one day find their way into Chinese hands. It is crucial to note here that Chinese intelligence services are directed and resource-scaled towards accessing these technologies even without host nation support. That vast effort reflects the U.S.-China cold war.
Fortunately, some Israeli officials are openly sharing U.S. concerns. The Jerusalem Post notes that the alliance-focused realist and former Mossad chief, Ephraim Halevy, is leading efforts here. Many others in the Israeli security services will share Halevy’s recognition that America is far more important to Israel than China.
Yet other Israeli officials see space for the traditional, albeit silent Israeli strategy vis-a-vis the U.S.: Be a good friend, but otherwise get away with doing what you can get away with. The Jerusalem Post’s report sums this up with its interview of Assaf Orion, “a retired Israeli brigadier general and expert on Israel-China relations now based at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.” Orion explains that for Israel, “The bottom line here is that Israel will make a fatal mistake by doing either or both of the following: disregarding China’s potential to advance Israel’s economy, and doing it with our eyes shut. We must keep our eyes open, fully aware of the risk management requirements and its possible impact on the US-Israel relationship.”
Orion’s assessment is correct. But the U.S. must ensure that Israel knows it cannot get away with its current course here. Israel has every right to pursue its foreign policy as it sees fit, but so does the U.S.
Let us hope that Israeli action enables the U.S. to maintain this deep, special relationship.
