Why America might support a Sino-Israel Free Trade Agreement
Against the backdrop of heightened Sino-US tensions, Israel is due to enter its 8th round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China. The two nations wrapped up their 7th round in November 2019, and could very well finalize the deal by the close of 2020. The notion of one of America’s closest allies […]
Futuristic Diplomacy Utilizing State-of-the-Art Technology
Once again, the young country of Israel has taken up the offensive and finds itself on the frontlines of war. Fear not, however, because this time, the enemies are instability and adversity. As a nation whose use of hard power is often harshly denounced, Israel has recently embraced a “softer,” more constructive approach to international relations, […]
Understanding China’s response to the Soleimani killing
The assassination of Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani was a monumental event in the ongoing US-Iran rivalry, the consequences of which will resonate throughout the Middle East and beyond for some time to come. Israeli leadership has lauded the Trump administration’s actions, with PM Netanyahu recently telling the media that “Trump is worthy of full appreciation for acting with […]
The Moroccan Exception
The 2011 “Arab Spring” ushered in a period of fanatical intolerance across the Middle East. Minority groups were persecuted as violent Islamist organizations spread terror from Egypt to Iraq. But this outbreak of fanaticism and violence was nothing new. In fact, persecution of Middle Eastern minorities has been a defining feature of regional history for the […]
The Chinese Way: Cultivating Relationships and Building Trust
What makes China so different from the West? Why are relations between Westerners and Chinese so often characterized by disparate expectations and missed communications? And how can Israel avoid falling into the trap of thinking in narrow Western terms when dealing with Beijing? One major difference between China and the West is that relationship networks play […]
Chinese Human Rights Delegation Visits Israel
Amidst allegations of abuses occurring in re-education camps in Xinjiang, and as protests continue to rage in Hong Kong, an official delegation from the China Foundation for Human Rights Development traveled to Israel last week for talks with Knesset members, think tanks, and academic institutions. The visit, led by the former Vice-Chairman of the National Committee […]
Middle East presentation at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, by Mr. Ahmed Al Mansoori, Dubai
The 2019 Beijing Xiangshan hosted a variety of concurrent sessions focusing on critical issues facing China, the region, and the world. Two of the sessions addressed Security Developments in the Middle East. SIGNAL’s Executive Director, Carice Witte, spoke at the first session about regional developments. Also on the panel were experts from China, Germany, and […]
SIGNAL Celebrates the Work of Renowned Educator, Prof. Emeritus Meron Medzini
People-to-people relations are a core component of Xi Jinping Thought. The Chinese leadership has been responsible for crafting many policies that include or are centered around this formidable principle, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. As countries integrate economically and interact politically, having the cultural and personal understanding that comes from a direct individual contact, […]
Everything Over the Heavens: A new arena for confrontation and cooperation
There is an ancient Chinese idea that “under heaven’s canopy there is nowhere that is not the king’s land,” this is the concept of Tian Xia. China of the 21st Century has pushed its ambitions further than anything the ancient thinkers could have imagined. Since launching its first unmanned spacecraft in 1999, China has released itself […]
“Indispensable Netanyahu”- The Israeli prime minister’s diplomatic role has overriding importance for American and world security
After 13 years in office, Benjamin Netanyahu has served long enough to have rankled every Israeli I know. He faces a difficult election on September 17, after failing to form a coalition government following a national election earlier this year. As an American, I avoid taking a view on Israeli politics, but this is a […]