Room for a Chinese Role in Israel-Palestine Conflict

China is destined to become involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestine. It is more and more difficult for China to untangle itself from this century long hotbed of conflict in the Middle East. China has acquired either full or part ownership of multiple Israeli companies of significant size. Both Chinese and Israeli companies are benefiting from partnering with each other in the high tech and startup field, with venture capital and PE deals spanning from Beijing’s Zhongguancun to the Silicon Valley then to Israel’s Silicon Wadi. Although China’s economic involvement with the Palestinians is not as extensive as with the Israelis, China understands well that as an old friend of the PLO, any show of lack of support for the Palestinian cause will not only bring complaint from the Arab brothers of the latter, but also damage China’s hard earned international image as a leader of and promoter for justice in the developing world.