Is China planning to mediate in the Palestine-Israel conflict?

New Delhi: In an eagerness to display diplomatic skill, China has recently turned its attention to mediating the longstanding Palestine-Israel issue. Building on its success in brokering a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China now seeks to alleviate tensions and promote stability in the Middle East by actively engaging in resolving the Palestinian question.

 

China's involvement in the matter was highlighted in an article published by the Global Times, a media outlet closely aligned with the Chinese government. The publication urged the international community to refocus its attention on the Palestinian question, emphasizing the collective responsibility to assist the Middle East in attaining peace and stability.

 

The urgency for mediation is highlighted after recent violence in Jenin town and a recent suicide attack in Tel Aviv, carried out by a 20-year-old Palestinian, which injured seven people. Hamas, a Palestinian political organization, labelled the attack a "first response to the Israeli crimes against people in Jenin. This incident and a series of escalating events have intensified the need for external intervention to de-escalate tensions.

 

Significantly, China's attempt to mediate follows the Israeli security forces' extensive operation using drones and helicopters in Jenin, resulting in the largest raid on the northern West Bank in over two decades. 

 

The operation claimed the lives of at least ten Palestinians, injured 80 others, and caused thousands to flee from the affected refugee camp. In response, Palestine halted all contacts, meetings, and security coordination with the Israeli government, strongly condemning its brutal raids in the West Bank.

 

China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, emphasized the importance of breaking the cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians during a UN Security Council meeting on June 27. 

 

He stressed the need to uphold the international rule of law, halt unilateral actions that alter the status quo, honour political commitments, and advance the two-state solution. Zhang Jun's remarks underscore China's interest in playing a substantial role as a regional peacemaker.

 

China's increasing involvement in mediating conflicts is not limited to the Palestine-Israel issue. The recent success in facilitating the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has emboldened China to pursue further diplomatic endeavours as a mediator in international disputes in the Gulf countries and beyond.

President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas visited China in June, during which President Xi Jinping proposed a three-point settlement proposal for the Palestinian question. President Xi stressed the urgency of addressing the unresolved issue, which has caused significant suffering to the Palestinian people over several decades.

 

Chinese leaders anticipate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's forthcoming visit to China, scheduled for later this month. Although the trip is yet to be officially confirmed, experts and academics anticipate that Netanyahu's visit could be crucial in advancing a peaceful solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. 

 

Some experts even suggest that Netanyahu's decision to engage with China reflects Israel's desire to remind the United States that alternative diplomatic options exist.

China's diplomatic ambitions extend beyond mediating the Palestine-Israel issue; the country also seeks to facilitate the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. 

 

How the world will accept China's new love to mediate in complex international issues is yet to crystalize the reaction of Western countries and, more so, of the United States.