As Europe and America continue to be flooded with welfare-dependent Muslim migrants, companies and universities are being pressured to divest their investments and boycott products made in the State of Israel. But while some in the West turn their backs on Israel, Chinese business leaders are investing there more than ever before. China admires the Jewish state, including its emphasis on education, strong family relationships, leading entrepreneurship, breakthrough technological innovations, and most of all its incomparable success despite its size in a hostile neighborhood of enemies.
Times of Israel (h/t Mike F) Around the same time, Gaon Holdings that controls Ahava, informed Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that China’s investment giant Fosan has acquired the company for $77 million.
Ahava’s plant is located in the West Bank that is a target of the BDS movement, and in 2011 it was forced to close its London flagship store after weeks of demonstration by pro-Palestinian groups. In June the Dead Sea cosmetics company was reportedly considering relocating its factory from Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem, located beyond the Green Line, to inside Israel’s pre-1967 border.
However, now that China has acquired the company and seeking to expand the products into China’s enormous and rapidly expanding cosmetics market, Ahava may not need to relocate. Back in 2007, Ahava had already signed exclusive distribution agreement with a Chinese company to build up the brand name in China.
Moreover, if other European nations follow Iceland’s model and boycott all Israeli products and not just those in the West Bank, relocating a factory would not make a difference.
In contrast, while the West boycotts Israel, Chinese companies such as Fosun have been pouring investments into Israeli companies the past years. For Fosun, which also bought Israeli medical and cosmetic energy-based device manufacturer Alma Lasers in 2013, “Israel is a highly attractive market that complements Fosun’s global expansion strategy.”
Unlike Europe that is still reeling from recession and the aftermath of the Eurozone crisis, China recognizes technology and innovations is a factor for continued growth. Tel Aviv-based IVC Research Center said in 2015, Chinese investments in Israeli start-ups would reach $467 million, a 54% increase from $302 million last year.
IVC counts some 30 new Chinese investors in Israel since 2012, with companies like Huawei and Desay seekings deals, and Alibaba—the worlds’ largest e-commerce company—investing $5 million in the startup Visualead in January and later in Jerusalem Venture Partner’s VC fund.
Other deals include acquisition of controlling interest in Tnuva Food Industries, Pegasus Technologies Ltd that develops and sells digital pens for the computer environment, Adama Agricultural Solutions, Ltd., agreement to build the new Ashdod port by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., $130 million donation to Technion, $300 million joint center between Tel Aviv University and Tsinghua University for innovative research and education, just to name a few.
But not every Academic institution in the West wants to boycott Israel:
David Fuchs, managing partner of the newly formed $20 million Synergy China Funds, observed Chinese VC market is growing by leaps and bounds. As such many Israeli venture capital funds have raised capital from Chinese backers, and Israeli start-ups can also tap into more Chinese capital when they expand operations in the lucrative Chinese market.
It is interesting to note that just before Iceland and EU’s ominous moves in September to boycott Israel, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a film in late August to mark the 70 anniversary since the end of WWII and to express Israel’s gratitude for China sheltering 20,000 Jews who fled Nazi-occupied Europe.
In the film, the Consul General of Israel in Shanghai Mr. Arnon Perlmansaid, “the film is a token of appreciation to Shanghai and to the Chinese people from the people of Israel. The Israel people will never forget how the Chinese people came to our help during our darkest hour. It is here, in Shanghai, where Jewish refugees could find shelter from the Nazi regime.”
Among the Israelis featured in the video are former refugees from Shanghai, Mayor Yona Yahav of Haifa, Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Robert J. (Yisrael) Aumann, high tech professionals, famous magician Hezi Din, various students and artists. After Israel made the film, which received wide Chinese press coverage, China responded with a video to express a heartwarming “you’re welcome.”
Very prescient considering what would unfold in a matter of days after the film was made, with Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemning Iceland’s boycott and status as “a volcano of hatred spews forth from the Reykjavik city council building”, while EU’s decision provoked Prime Minister Netanyahu to invoke Nazi Germany’s boycott on Jewish stores and that “we have historical memory of what happened when Europe labeled Jewish products.”
One thing for sure, Obama has done what no other American president has been able to do. His policies have forced historical enemies to become allies. Israel has formed close ties with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Russia, and apparently, now even in China.
China is smarter than we are
I like the “Synergy” of the merger …. Israeli has inventions …. China has people …. the combined Israel/Chinese population > Islamic “Filthdom” ?
Arggh Canada is on the list. Well this is a longer video at speakers corners in Toronto but…. I doth protest.
https://youtu.be/4uLM3wlYuWw
Mars, it’s not the government policy, it’s individual institutions and businesses.
Now if that had been a Christian challenging a muslim, the police that are always at Speakers Corner would have arrested him and charged him with inciting racial and religious hatred, and I guarantee, he would be facing a long holiday care of Her Majesty.
Most people who aren’t interested in what someone is saying would just walk away. Instead these Muslims laugh and jeer at this man. I commend this man for standing his ground. Ishmaelites, the lot of them.
Oops this is in London England. Sorry bout that,
South Africa despises Israel so much that they are even thinking of passing a law abolishing dual passports to prevent jews who live in SA from joining the Israeli army. Sooo threatened by this they are in the meantime South Africans pay their halal tax like good little citizens as just about EVERYTHING carries the repulsive halal sign on it. Somehow these zombies don’t have problem with the slaughter done in the name of Allah. And it’s supposed to be a secular country but being forced to pay religious tax is both undemocratic and unconstitutional. I
Lisa, no Israeli citizens should live there. They are slaughtering white people there.
I wear one of these, it gets attention where I live just like my crucifix, however, there is nothing better than letting those cockroaches know that this is Britain and that they and islam are not welcome.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODU3WDE2MDA=/z/1WIAAOSwMmBVi-xF/$_57.JPG
Yes, that must twist them.
Yes and I wear it with pride.
There maybe major disagreements on Theology today between Christians and Jews, however, the majority of both faiths share the same core values through our shared heritage from Hebrewism.
I find it highly offensive when these Satanic Heathens tell me they share the same values and the same GOD as me.
They state proudly that they are the third Abrahamic Religion and the final word of GOD. The reason they hate Jews so much is because they believe they are GOD’S chosen people and as such they must kill all the dirty Jews who blaspheme in the name of allah.
So I say to everyone, you MUST be prepared to stand up for your values, show them that you are proud of your faith and culture and that you WILL NEVER SUBMIT.
I used to wear a larger crucifix, but I stopped wearing it as I looked like a white boy pretending to be a ‘gangsta’.
By wearing a discreet Pin and Crucifix I am still displaying my faith and beliefs, and I believe it makes a stronger statement as I AM CONFIDENT IN MY BELIEFS AND THEREFORE, I DO NOT HAVE TO FORCE IT UPON OTHERS LIKE islam.
CANADA, as a nation does not boycott ISRAEL. Some small minded groups do however.
The Harper government is signalling its intention to use hate crimes laws against Canadian advocacy groups that encourage boycotts of ISRAEL.
The move would target civil society groups like
the United Church of Canada, Canadian Quakers, Campus protest groups and labour unions.
As a proud CANADIAN I wanted to make that clear.
Most CANADIANS support and STAND WITH ISRAEL.
James, I don’t even know why Canada or the US is on that map. It is not an official policy to boycott Israel, but several universities, businesses and organizations have.
This Idiots boycott Israel but give MILLIONS to Terrorists and their voters(Fatah HAMAS!!!They pay for the whole gov.,pay teachers and school books even if they are full of hatespeech and dreamings of killing jews.
https://www.facebook.com/unwatch please like it.
China is an evolving country, steering towards capitalism and individual freedoms. Also becoming westernized, slowly but surely. Their people now seem happy, nice to see them smile and dance.
BDS is a thorn and any company that submits to its intimidation and fear tactics deserves to be boycotted.
Where is money that the world give to the Muslims ?
The reporter is pretty impressive. So young, but she can speak three languages (maybe more).
Obama and his policies are a curse.
It seems that everyone wants to be friends with Israel other than Iran and the US.
Brilliant ! Excellent news
2 countries I look up to greatly. It’s great to see some countries in the world aren’t completely insane.
Western-Europeans suffering with a self-annihilation complex, as we see now with the influx of millions of murderous, leeching Muslims, tried to shame Israel into committing suicide by demographics and BDS, now may look in vain and horror at the predicament they’ve put themselves in, when Israel simply HAS no choice but turn away from a hostile West towards the East to survive.
I wonder how attractive Western Europe will become to the Chinese and other investors, when soaring debts giving away Western budgets to wacko, civilization-destroying Muslims brings Western Europe down.
Will the West survive? Has such a massive death wish ever occurred in history on such a scale?
Thanks for the article, BNI.
SS, all I ever run across are pro-BDS articles so this was a nice surprise.
The Chinese are probably wondering why the West would even consider taking in large number of muslim immigrants. This would not be considered PC to the left but I bet common folks from America, India, China, Canada deep down would hate to see Europe become a Islamic continent. The far left deep down knows this.
The left is in favor of this. It is the left in Europe that is inviting them in and they don’t care who doesn’t like it.
Never knew the Chinese took in Jews during the war.
China supporting Israel could have some nasty knock-on effects for the U S economically.
anyone heard about pig gate?
It involves David Cameron LOL!
The G-dless Chinese Commie govt does no favors for anyone nor any nation. They only act in their own self-interest in their quest for world domination. Buying a controlling interest in an Israeli food company! They are buying up our food companies too! They pretty much own the pork market here. At least 50 million native Chinese were slaughtered or starved during their “glorious” cultural revolution. The wholesale slaughter of millions of babies continues unabated. Commies are muslims without a god figure.
Some economic freedoms were allowed after Tienanmen protests, but there really is no free market capitalism. Most companies are owned by party members or the military.
The Chinese people are constantly victimized by their totalitarian govt.
https://youtu.be/mF02MZRE5vc
@Liz
You mean to say that Chinese do not favour any Nation? That means if Pakis are of no use to Chinese propaganda, they will break up just like the US? China & Pakistan both are enemies of India. China also understand that a war with India will be unwinnable as India is not in 1962 where we can be butchered easily. Also Japan, India, Philippines, Vietnam & Taiwan team up against the Chinese. And development is a word not found in paki dictionary at all. US & China are obliged to fill paki begging bowl.
Yes I agree with the fact that Indians & EUROPEANS in particular are all Bholenaths(another name of Lord Shiva). Bhole(innocent) Nath(God) & but we can be ruthless if provoked just like lord Shiva. The Christian Crusaders & Hindu/Sikh Crusaders were ruthless people. When I found in wiki in persecution of Hindus/Sikh & later persecution of Muslims I found that Hindus & Sikhs were MUCH MUCH more ruthless than Muslims (content deleted by Wikipedia). Crusaders were brutal savages as well.
I wrote that China’s commie govt doesn’t do FAVORS for anyone or any nation. They only act in their own self-interest. They may FAVOR nations that are also totalitarian. Their goal is to rule a G-dless hell on earth.
G-d, of course, has other plans.
the Chinese dislike islam as much as Russia does and are certainly on the winning side .sorry for the US people who have and had a great tradition of supporting Israel.Maybe that will change with Trump as the next president of the US Sorry to say Trump is the best hope for the US the other candidates are uninspiring to say the least.Notice that Australia is not on your boycott list and hopefully will stay there as there is a history of pro Israel support in Australia going back to WW1 clearing the Ottamans and 1 st to recognise Israel State in the UN.
Yes I agree with Nguyen completely. China can do anything for its expansionist policy. Chinese have disputes with everyone,
with India on Askai Chin & Arunachal Pradesh
With Japan on disputed islands in South China sea.
With Vietnam & Philippines on Access of South China sea.
& China is also an allweather ally of Pakistan. In UN when India raised issue of terrorism & 26/11China vetoed the resolution while Russia, US, France & UK supported us. China using Pakistan’s shoulder to shoot on us (Enemy’s Enemy is a friend).
Actually I don’t think China will have any pivotal role in fighting Islamism. All of what China would do is to reinforce and expand their power, and they don’t mind allying with any country (except Japan) which can be Islamic or not. Remember that the closest allies of China is no one else but Pakistan. I hope that Chinese government will play a neutral role in the forthcoming, inevitable war with Islamists.
China has a big problem with its on muslims.
Bonni, they must be given credit for sometimes solving the problems with Muslims. They shoot them!
Very clever people, the Chinese. They put non-Muslims in Muslim areas to avoid ghettoes and force assimilation. As you know, they ban all sorts of Islamic things, long beards for instance.
Etti, I have covered a lot of these stories about how China deals with its muslim problem. Just enter “China” Uighur Muslims into the Search Box.
I can see it now. For those of us in the United States who support Israel, it will be another reason our powers that be will label us terrorists.
Fascinating! China knows where the brains, creativity and talent lie, while Israel, shunned by Obama, makes friends with its enemies and establishes stronger political ties with Moscow. What can possibly go wrong? What sway does the U.S. still have in the Middle East? Can we regain one day the clout we used to have?
gato, remember how fast those hostages in Iran got released as soon as Reagan become president?