Monday, March 4, 2002 The Jerusalem Post
Go east: Strengthen relations with Asia
Israel's foreign policy priorities need rethinking. The US should unquestionably remain the
focus of diplomatic efforts. No other country or bloc of states can replace the political and
material support that America can render.
In the Middle East, however, the heralded goal of regional integration seems not only
unattainable, but also unattractive. The Arab world resents the Jewish State and has little to
offer. Arab civilizational achievements and grandeur are part of the distant
past. Nowadays, the Arab states are corrupt dictatorships, mostly struggling to meet
economic ends. The decline in the price of oil for the past two decades corresponds to the
dwindling political power of the Arab bloc. Only Africa is in worst shape than the
Arab world. In the Middle East, modernization and democratization reached non-Arab Turkey
only, and the good relations between Ankara and Jerusalem are no coincidence.
Therefore, the recent Saudi offer for "recognition and normalization of relations," even if
serious (a doubtful proposition), is not worth much. Israel is an established international fact,
no longer in need of Arab recognition. Moreover, experience with Egypt and Jordan
indicates that bilateral trade is minimal and of marginal consequence to Israel's economy. The
economic weight of the whole Arab world is slightly larger than Holland's.
Europe is important to Israel primarily in economic terms - it is its largest trade partner. The
European states, some of them medium powers, carry some weight in the international arena
and deserve Israeli attention, particularly the UK and Germany.
In contrast, France, which has become the host of the largest Muslim emigre community in
Europe and the locus of anti-Semitic revival as a politically correct phenomenon, continues to
follow an anti-Israel line. Most Israeli energies should be directed at bringing home the French
Jewish community, the largest in Europe, rather than at barren attempts to influence
hypocritical and arrogant French politicians and diplomats.
So far the European Union has not acquired the status of a serious international player and is
unlikely to become one in the near future.
This is fortunate from an Israeli perspective. A united Europe is likely to distance itself further
from the US. A European Middle East policy could become even more hostile than it is today.
The most important recommended change of focus in Israel's foreign policy concerns Asia.
Forging better relations with Asian nations should be a much higher priority for economic and
political reasons. In the past decade bilateral trade with several Asian countries has increased
five-fold.
The increase has taken place despite the economic difficulties experienced by Asian
economies. Most Asian countries have adopted economic policies conducive to growth and
integration in a globalized economy, which in the long-run will benefit their citizens'
international trade. India and China are the most populous countries in the world, with rising
purchasing power. Indeed, Asia provides the greatest potential for a substantial boost in
Israeli exports.
Many Asian nations show greater understanding for Israel's security predicament than the
Europeans. The prime examples are India, South Korea and Singapore. Security concerns
are still important in molding their foreign policies.
Asian cultures also do not carry any anti-Semitic baggage like Europe. Moreover, the large
Muslim communities in India and Southeast Asia generally display less fanaticism than their
Arab co-religionists. Actually, many reject tacit Arab claims to religious superiority.
These features make Asian Muslims more open to dialogue with Israel. For example, the
improvement in relations with India, a country of one billion people, has opened up for Israel a
community of 200 million Muslims, more than all Israel's Muslim neighbors. Diluting the
Islamic dimension in the Arab-Israeli conflict has been a paramount strategic interest.
Another dimension conducive to better relations with many Asian countries is their proAmerican foreign policies and their tendency to accept American leadership on many
international issues.
In many ways,
Israel, India,
Japan,
South
Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand are in the same strategic boat. The perception of Israel as a
strong and faithful American ally in many Asian capitals is an asset worth taking advantage of.
Therefore, Israel should pay much greater attention to this important part of the world and
enhance its presence there.