The meetings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton most likely focused not on Syria but on China.
Sure, Syria was up there on the agenda, and perhaps they spent most of the time talking about that country. But the "main course" was China. Syria is mainly an Israeli problem. The U.S. only plays a supporting role and backs Israel's conduct in that theater to counter the Iranian threat.
But China is something else entirely. Israel's policy toward China has over the past year undermined U.S. interests. In March this year, it was reported that a Chinese firm will be awarded a bid to operate the new port being built in Haifa. Israeli policymakers apparently made this decision purely on economic grounds without looking into the strategic and security ramifications.
In recent months, the U.S. and China have locked horns on various matters, and Taiwan may become the trigger for a conflagration. Israel, which has faced strategic isolation over the past several years, has relied on the U.S. support, as well as alliances with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus.
The bottom line is that that the U.S. is retreating from the region despite Bolton's reassurances. Former U.S. President Barack Obama began this process when he explicitly said he wanted to withdraw from the region, in what was an attempt to bolster ties with the Arab-Muslim world at Israel's expense. Trump continued this process, justifying the withdrawal as part of his America First neo-isolationist motto.
Over the past several years, Russia has tried to become the regional hegemon, and the U.S. has not provided a counterweight. The nuclear deal in 2015 paved the way for Russia's massive show of force, as well as allowed Iran and Hezbollah to become more dominant on Israel's north.
Likewise, Turkey has bought an island in the Red Sea.
The U.S. 6th Fleet, which operates in the Mediterranean Sea, lacks an aircraft carrier. If Israel lets the Chinese run the new port, it means that vessels from that fleet will no longer make port calls in Haifa.
The fact that Israelis are generally unaware of the radical changes in the region underscores Netanyahu's political acumen. Netanyahu, unlike the Israeli defense establishment who see themselves as America's lackeys, has long realized that Israel must tap the potential of Asian giants and the regional powers.
He has realized that Israel can no longer outsource its national security to the U.S. with the hope that it takes care of the conflict with the Palestinians. Netanyahu believes China is the future and that its international influence far exceeds that of Russia. Netanyahu's positive attitude toward China was clearly on display in February, when the Chinese vice president visited Israel. The pictures captured a strong bond between the two.
Netanyahu also knows how to make a point of not being close to someone, as is clearly on display when he is with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But despite the warm ties with China, Israel must not ignore the fact that its overarching goal is to become a global hegemon through the One Belt, One Road initiative. China also has vested interests in Iran and has no regard for other countries' sovereignty.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently said that China should seize new opportunities that have not been around 100 years ago. As far as Israel is concerned, perhaps it should rethink its decision to grant China control of the new port if it gets something in return from the U.S.
