Netanyahu seeks alternative diplomatic and economic gains

Exporting the Zionist colonisation project in terms of diplomatic and economic gains has been imperative for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – strategies dictated by circumstances. At a time when Venezuela was intensely engaged in establishing agreements with Palestine, Netanyahu diverted his attention towards South American countries that have, historically, been sympathetic to Israel. The alleged reasoning behind the strategy was to create a stronghold before Palestine and Iran could establish their influence in the region.

As the EU moved forward with the labelling of settlement products, Netanyahu retaliated by announcing that Israel would suspend all engagement with the EU with regard to peace negotiations. The EU dismissed Netanyahu’s remarks, stating: “The EU would continue to work on Middle East Peace Process, in the Quartet, with its Arab partners, and with both parties, as peace in the Middle East was an issue of interest to the entire international community and also to all Europeans.”

A spokesperson for the European External Action Service also hastened to add that “EU-Israel relations are good, broad and deep, and this will continue.” The statement offers much more clarity than Netanyahu’s apparently affronted remarks and actions following the EU directive.

At the UN Climate Change conference, Netanyahu seems to have toyed with the idea of establishing economic ties with India and China, partly due to disagreements with the EU and the US over the two-state negotiations, settlement expansion and the recent labelling of produce. Despite the opposition being mainly symbolic or of little practical concern to Israel, Netanyahu has deemed the slight veering towards direct criticism as worthy of an opposing reaction.

The choice of India and China, as detailed in the Times of Israel, is due to the fact that the countries dissociate Israel’s colonial endeavours from economic benefits. In 2013, Naftali Bennett declared: “Chinese companies don’t let the Israeli-Arab conflict get in the way of business.”

However, like the EU, China has exhibited double standards that are ultimately of benefit to Israel. It voted in favour of granting Palestine non-member observer status at the UN while going on to look towards Israel for improving military technology.

India, on the other hand, abstained from the vote on the UN report regarding war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza during “Operation Protective Edge” – a stance that may reflect Israel’s intention to seek diplomatic engagement and influence with developing nations. India is already at the helm of purchasing Israel’s military technology and, earlier this year, there were negotiations for a bilateral agreement relating to information technology, biotechnology and agriculture.

However, these manoeuvres should not be misinterpreted as Israel’s intention to shun the EU or the US. A proper retaliation against the epitomes of complicity in Zionist colonisation would necessitate a complete reinvention of the false narrative disseminated at an international level. Other than an exportation of influence and repression which will also result in further international isolation of Palestinians, Netanyahu is unlikely to refute or find fault with the generous compensation that both the EU and the US regale him with in return for token criticism of Israel’s macabre manifestation.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.