# Why Should I Support Israel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [December 29, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015 "2008-12-29T01:32:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 16

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015/301 "2009-01-12T00:10:56Z")

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> [@Squink](#):
>
> [Blue water navy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-water_navy)

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015/302 "2009-01-12T00:11:58Z")

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> [@Richard\_Parker](#):
>
> Err, what? I was responding to whether the Chinese Navy had ships capable of going further than Taiwan. Are you objecting that Somalia is not further than Taiwan, or that they were not Chinese ships?

I was objecting to the world “example” that implied other instances.

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015/303 "2009-01-12T00:19:28Z")

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> [@Alessan](#):
>
> In 3000 years of history, China has never shown the least interest in the politics of countries it doesn’t directly border. I don’t see why they’d start now.

China has been developing its influence in many parts of the world, recently. It’s true that until now, it limited itself to economic agreements, contracts, development projects, etc… But on a rather massive scale and in many different parts of the world, including Arab states.

The next step is indeed probably beginning to be involved in diplomatic issues and throw its weight around when it suits its interests, precisely because now it has interests to protect. Whether that could involve Israel at some point, I couldn’t guess.

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**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015/304 "2009-01-12T07:03:06Z")

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Yes, the basic idea is that it will be in China’s interest to interfere in the Arab-Israeli process both to signal its arrival as a global power and to acquire bargaining chips with the two sides. That doesn’t mean it will be wholly pro-Arab. As mentioned above it has a defense relationship with Israel which it would like to strengthen over US objections. But the balance it strikes is likely to be much less pro-Israel than the US and I suspect it will be the mirror-image of the US; i.e. it will lean toward the Arabs while still trying to maintain a decent relationship with Israel.

Leaning towards the Arabs will help protect its all-important energy interests, help obtain support from Muslim states against its own Muslim separatists and also be a gesture towards its own Muslim population. Furthermore if it wants an entry into the Arab-Israeli process it will need a position to distinguish itself from the US and a moderately pro-Arab tilt is the logical answer.

Like I said, I don’t expect to see all this happen in the near future but in 10-15 years I think we will see a much more assertive China around the world.

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