March 20, 2011 - 4:36pm
Hebrew University Prof. talks China-Israel relations at event
BY KAITLIN WILLIAMS
Raphael Israeli, professor of Chinese and Middle Eastern history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a visiting professor at California State University, spoke to a crowd of about 80 in the Michigan League last night about the relationship between Chinese and Middle Eastern history and current affairs.
Israeli said the topic of the event — which was sponsored by the American Movement for Israel — was somewhat of a rarity, as it combined his two areas of expertise, Chinese and Middle Eastern history, adding that normally he addresses the topics separately.
“As you realize, to speak about the relations between China and Israel — this will be the focus of my presentation — seems a little bit odd,” Israeli said, “because it is like putting together an elephant and a mosquito.”
He said he prefaced his speech with this analogy to acknowledge the differences between China and Israel. Israeli added that the two countries also have many similarities, including their formation at around the same time.
“There should have been no problem in establishing diplomatic relations between them,” he said.
Though Israeli spoke about the relationship between China and Israel last night, he is also known for his controversial views on the Muslim world. Critics point to his books, like "Islamikaze: Manifestations of Islamic Martyrology" and "The Spread of Islamikaze Terrorism in Europe: The Third Islamic Invasion," as examples of his skewed perspective on issues involving the Middle East.
Israeli noted that the relationship between China and Israel has been somewhat complicated by various international situations, but that the two countries have worked together in a variety of ways.
In 1979, Israeli was an advisor on Chinese relations to a group of Israelis who responded to an appeal from China for help. He said the meetings in which Israel advised China on how to upgrade their weaponry lead to a “secret contract” between the two countries at the time, which lasted for several decades. The contract established the diplomatic trade of goods and services between the two countries, but the relationship couldn't be made public until 1992 because of international conflicts.
Israeli said one of the reasons Israel and China had trouble establishing diplomatic relations is because of intervention from the U.S. and other countries.
“The Congress (of the U.S.) said, ‘Here is China, trying to gain military advantage in the Pacific and threatening the superiority of the United States in the Far East. And if Israel went away with the some of those advantages, then it would be endangering the national security of the United States,’” he said.
Because the U.S. felt threatened by the two countries’ relationship, Israeli said diplomatic relations between China and Israel ended in bitterness and distrust.
Israeli also spoke about China’s role in the relationship between Israel and Iran. As the hostile relationship between Israel and Iran persists, Israeli said China seems to be getting closer to Iran because China and Israel have yet to restore their diplomatic relationship. He added that China's dependence on Iran for energy resources is a main source of tension.
LSA freshman Noel Gordon asked Israeli at the end of his speech, if he think U.S.'s increasing dependence on China for resources will change the dynamic between Israel and China.
Israeli said he didn’t think the dependence would significantly affect the situation.
After the speech, Gordon said he was happy with this response and said he thought the talk was very informative.
“Dr. Israeli is very knowledgeable, obviously, on this topic and he provides great insight on an issue that has been going on for a long time,” he said.
LSA sophomore Richard Kallus, the chair of AMI, said in an interview after the talk that he was happy with the large turnout. He said the event was successful in fulfilling the goal of the student organization, which is to educate people about conflict in and around Israel.
Kallus added that he thought Israeli’s speech was helpful in providing an in-depth overview on the relationship between Israel and China.
