China Urges Israel To Be Brave

China’s President Xi Jinping urged Israel to make “brave” decisions on the latest round of peace talks with the Palestinians, after negotiators ended another U.S-mediated session with no sign of a breakthrough.

“At present, the Israeli-Palestinian talks process has entered a crucial stage; there are opportunities and also many difficulties,” Xi told visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres, China’s foreign ministry said late on Tuesday.

“(China) hopes that Israel keeps in mind the broader picture of peace, shows strategic wisdom, makes brave decisions as early as possible, and pushes, along with the international community and Palestinians, for substantive progress on peace talks,” Xi added.

China has traditionally had a low profile in Middle East diplomacy despite its reliance on oil imports from there, but is keen to assert its role as a force in international politics.

Last year, Xi met both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, urging them to revive discussions.

Xi, who took office in March last year, did not outline any specific proposals for the peace talks, saying simply that China would keep “playing a constructive role.”

Beijing has maintained close relations with the Palestinians for decades. In recent years, it has also cultivated ties with Israel, though Israel is wary of China’s links with Iran.

China, Iran’s top oil customer and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has opposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, such as those imposed by Washington and the European Union, and has called repeatedly for talks to resolve the stand-off over Iran’s contested nuclear program.

President Peres also raised the increased cooperation between Israel and China in the fields of technology, medicinal agriculture and neuroscience. He called for direct flights by Chinese airlines from China to Israel to increase tourism between the two countries.

After the meeting, which lasted two hours, President Xi Jinping hosted President Peres and his delegation for dinner at the Presidential Palace and during dinner a Chinese military band surprised Peres with a medley of Israeli songs.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the April 10th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.