Twenty Years of China-Israel Relations
By Carice Witte, Founder/Exec. Director, SIGNAL
With Jake Morrel, Head of Communications & Strategic Development, SIGNAL
Translated to Chinese by Chen Zhao, Program Assistant Intern, SIGNAL
The 20th jubilee of official diplomatic ties between the People’s Republic of China and the State of Israel will take place during 2012. Jewish holy days traditionally begin in the evening. Thus, it is fitting that the genesis of the next phase in China-Israel relations should begin on the eve of this momentous event. To be sure, the sharp increase in China-Israel business, diplomatic, cultural and academic exchanges in 2011 may very well herald a significant development in relations between these two ancient, Asian nations.
The evolution of the relationship between Israel and China has been characterized by general improvement with brief periods of frustration and misunderstanding. Relations between these two ancient peoples were historically dominated by geopolitical considerations and the influence of allied countries. The State of Israel was the first country in the Middle East and the seventh member of the United Nations to recognize the People’s Republic of China. Despite this, schisms developed between the leaders of the two nations. Israel tends to approach international relations through a Western lens. Meanwhile, China understood the early support of the former Soviet Union and Israel’s powerful socialist movement to be indicative of an Israeli departure from western political ideology.
(more…)
Bringing Light to the Holy Land: Israel’s Electrical System
Like every other nation, Israel is a country that is always growing – demographically, technologically and economically. As a result, Israel has an ever-growing need for a reliable and efficient supply of electrical energy. (more…)
Israeli Environment – Introduction
One of the cornerstones of the Zionist revolution was a love of the land of Israel. It was a love that ran deep, with Jewish youth and students in the land of Israel going on hikes in valleys and mountains throughout the country. All devoted Zionists, in the land of Israel and abroad, learned the names of all the streams, the mountains, the flora and fauna. Indeed, the very definition of a Jewish pioneer was one who ‘returned to the land’ and became ‘in tune with nature’ around him. It is only natural, then, that the Zionist movement and Jewish populace in the state of Israel would make a serious effort to protect the country’s natural landscape. (more…)