Limits of China’s sway in IsraelBy Sumit KumarThe killing of more than 1,300 innocent Israelis and other nationals in an unprecedented brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, as well as the kidnapping of more than 150 soldiers and civilians, including women and children, has shaken the world. The genesis of the conflict between Israel and Palestine goes back to 1948, when the creation of Israel as an independent nation out of the British Mandate for Palestine led to the first Arab-Israel war. Although the international community has remained a votary of the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, Hamas’ outrageous terrorist act has drawn worldwide condemnation. It is in this context that Taiwan has established a working group to draw lessons from the Hamas attack. While lessons from the Hamas attack can help Taiwan’s retaliatory capabilities, China’s cold-handed approach to the crisis in the Middle East and the US-led global support to Israel will be a big deterrent for Taiwan against China.
