JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Tuesday that he had received an invitation to visit China.
His office informed the United States, a close ally, about the planned trip to Beijing amid strained relations between Israel and the US. President Joe Biden notably did not invite Netanyahu for a visit after the Israeli leader’s reelection in November.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that this would be his fourth visit to China and highlighted that the American administration was informed about it a month ago. The prime minister also notified a bipartisan Congressional delegation about the trip, emphasizing that the US would always be Israel’s most vital and irreplaceable ally.
When contacted by AFP, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office could not provide further details regarding the planned trip or its expected timing.
Tensions have arisen between the Biden administration and Israel due to differing views on key issues. The US administration consistently calls for a two-state solution with the Palestinians and criticizes settlement expansion under Netanyahu’s leadership. Netanyahu returned to power in December in a coalition between his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, including hardline settlers. Peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have been at a standstill since 2014.
Apart from the Israel-US dynamics, China has been engaging in a diplomatic offensive in the Middle East. In March, China brokered the restoration of ties between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas visited China earlier this month, and in April, China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang held telephone talks with top Israeli and Palestinian diplomats, expressing Beijing’s readiness to help facilitate peace talks.
The visit by Washington’s top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to Beijing last week also indicated potential progress in the strained relationship between China and the United States, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping acknowledged signs of headway.
