And We Love Their Food
China’s Ambassador to Israel says he hearts the Holy Land.
China’s Ambassador to Israel Zhao Jun encounters the same question time and again. During visits to his homeland he is asked what it’s like to serve in a country known as a world power with 200,000 residents.
“I explain to them that Israel only has seven million residents – barely a small town in China,” he says. “They find it hard to believe. I understand them. News doesn’t change all the time in China like it does here – every hour. It took me time to get used to it as well.”
After three years in Israel, Zhao is in love. He recently asked his supervisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing for another extension, although his term is scheduled to end soon. He wants to stay here at least one more year.
He spent Yom Kippur at the Kfat Shmaryahu synagogue near his residence. No, he didn’t fast, but felt the need to express his solidarity.
“I am China’s ambassador in Israel. I love Israel,” he says in Hebrew, adding that he would galdly study Hebrew but can’t find the time.
Didn’t you have any prejudice against Israel?
“When the supervisor informed me that there was an available position for an ambassador to Israel, I immediately said yes. He said, ‘Think about it for one night; consult your family.’ I told him there was no need. I am interested in the position. Like others, I thought it was a country constantly in a state of war.
“When I arrived here I discovered a wonderful country. What captured my heart was the residents’ friendly attitude. The friendship between Israel and the Chinese people has been going on for over 1,000 years, including during the Holocaust when Jewish refugees were given shelter in China although China was in dire straits, under a Japanese attack.”
On Tuesday, September 28, China marks 18 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel. The Chinese, like the Israelis, view this number as a symbolic milestone. “For us it symbolizes happiness and prosperity,” the ambassador explains.
A festive gala dinner was to be held at the Beit Shean amphitheater in the presence of President Shimon Peres. This location was chosen, among other things, in honor of former politician David Levy, who lives in Beit Shean and served as foreign minister when the relations with China were first established.
Zhao says he is working with the Israeli Foreign Ministry on preparing Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to China, where he says the prime minister is expected to be welcomed warmly.
“You might not know this,” he says, “but we in China admire you and your Jewish mind, which has brought many Nobel prizes. The free China was established in 1949, one year after Israel, but we view what you have achieved as a miracle. We are brothers, almost twins.”
Did he say twins?
Suppression of human rights, opposition to Iranian sanctions…there is only one way I can see us and China as twins.
And yeah, I am not impressed with the ambassador’s professed love for Israel. As Confucius say: Actions speak louder than words.*
* Ok, he might not have said that exactly. But he believed it, as evidenced by his saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
As they say in China (probably) you can't have everything, you imperialist capitalist dog. Surely there must be some Chinese restaraunts that have been made kosher in Israel. So be thankful for that. Not that I would go there. Give me mushu pork with a side of pork fried rice and wonton soup. And lots of luck having the Israeli foreign minister leading the diplomatic mission to improve relations with China. With Avigdor Lieberman doing the groundwork for Netanyahu's trip to China, the Israeli prime minister might get pelted with egg rolls once he gets to Beijing.
[...] And We Love Their Food : Israellycool [...]
Don’t be so ungrateful. This guy is saying really nice things about Israel, and you complain because of policies of his government back home, which are not his fault.
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I'm not even Jewish or Chinese but I made a blog about Jews and China here: http://jewschina.blogspot.com
Check out the post about Shalom Salomon Wald. I just think you guys should sit down and start a relationship ^_^.
I am impressed. I think his words are personal. Of course the 'twin' analogy makes us sick. But these old Chinese are always like that, a typical way of making speech determined by Chinese DNA. I myself is Chinese. Although it feels kind of weird to say I love Israel before you Israelis, still yes, I really do.
I've been angry at my government's policies toward Israel all the time. Other than oil money, I think the real reason why Chinese gov is pro-Iran and chant the same tone of condemnation is because of the similar oppressive regime as Arab countries have.
For this regard, if you're interested I wrote "Iran and China" [url ]http://milandroid.com/2010/08/israel-and-taiwan/ [/url]
Many Chinese have prejudice toward Israel, it's true. And I'm surprised Israelis are so friendly to Chinese. Someday I will go to Israel and I will use my actions to protect Israel.
Thank you for your support
milandroid do you think China's attachment to Taiwan is like Israel and Jews' attachment to Jerusalem?
Can't answer with a simple yes or no.
Taiwan is part of China, this is widely recognized. China's attachment to Taiwan is for territorial integrity. This might be a good reason but Taiwanese (also Chinese) refuse the oppressive regime and we should stand with them because human rights come first.
Jerusalem is not only part of Israel but also heart of Israel, this is too widely recognized. And it's foreigners who want to cut Jerusalem out.
Well, from the states' perspectives, the attachment seems both for territorial integrity. But the two are really different ones.