Netanyahu Accuses China and Qatar of Surrounding Israel, Beijing Responds Harshly

SadaNews - This week, the diplomatic arena witnessed unprecedented tension between Israel and China, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly accused Beijing of leading, alongside Qatar, an "informational siege and a campaign to delegitimize Israel" using artificial intelligence and massive budgets.

Netanyahu stated during his meeting with a delegation of 250 American lawmakers: "Just as the Iranians tried to impose a siege on us, there is a new attempt by several countries, led by Qatar and China, to impose an informational siege aimed at undermining our legitimacy." He added that Israel must confront these efforts.

However, the Chinese response was not long in coming, as the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv issued an official statement describing Netanyahu's remarks as "disturbing and unfounded, affecting the relations between the two countries," asserting that "what Israel needs is not continuous bombardment but political wisdom and creative diplomacy that leads to lasting peace."

The statement also pointed out that "the roots of the Middle East crises lie in the Palestinian issue, and there is no way to achieve stability except through mutual security and respecting the rights of the Palestinians to statehood and existence."

This tension comes amid growing Israeli concerns over reports of Chinese support for Iran in rebuilding its missile program and supplying it with air defense systems, which Israel considers a direct threat.

The Israeli ambassador in Washington recently warned of "alarming indicators" in this regard, while Netanyahu tries to show a closer alignment with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in the face of Beijing's rising influence.

In contrast, Israeli experts believe that Netanyahu's behavior reflects a belated shift in recognizing the Chinese risks, after years of economic collaboration and infrastructure projects, most notably the establishment of the Chinese port in Haifa despite security and American warnings. Analysts fear that the current escalation could lead to retaliatory steps from China, such as tightening restrictions on Israeli exports or limiting cooperation in technology and energy sectors.