China to operate port at Haifa

[grnamin]

Is there any truth to this?

https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-israel-is-giving-china-the-keys-to-its-largest-port-and-the-u-s-navy-may-abandon-israel-1.6470527

I could write a book about the many ways this is a very bad idea.

[26 Inf]

Ive seen several pieces on this, a couple of them try to make it seem as if this was merely a business deal and the folks conducting the deal really didn't have any idea of the ramifications to US-Israeli relations:

.....At the University of Haifa’s Workshop on Future of Maritime Security in the Eastern Mediterranean conference at the end of August, Shaul Chorev, reservist brigadier general of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), former navy chief of staff, and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, said a new mechanism was required to keep an eye on Chinese investments in Israel.....

....Chorev and his colleagues warned that Israel lacked a process to analyze economic investments for its national security implications, and must rapidly develop one.,,,, https://www.newsweek.com/chinese-deal-take-over-key-israeli-port-may-threaten-us-naval-operations-1121780

I'm not so sure I'd buy that 'Israel lacked a process to analyze economic investments for its national security implications' based on this release:

".....It (the Chinese firm) is bringing its capabilities to the port's development, and it will of course strengthen the relations between China and Israel. And I am happy for that," Israeli Transport and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz told Xinhua after the signing ceremony....

....Calling himself a pioneer in strengthening Israel-China relations, Katz said the SIPG's multi-billion-dollar investment plan to turn Haifa's new port into an international cargo center is "an expression of confidence in the State of Israel on the part of a superpower." https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?209707-China-to-operate-port-at-Haif

Granted, there is every possibility that this deal was made without any thought to the ramifications, But, I find it hard to believe that the Israeli Transport and Intelligence Minister had no clue. This is from wiki on Katz:

Yisrael Katz (Hebrew: ישראל כץ‎, born 21 September 1955) is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud, as the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Intelligence and as member of the Security Cabinet of Israel.

I think that although President Trump has not given the Israeli's any reason to doubt that he is a friend to the current Israeli Government, there are Israeli concerns about the long term relationship.

During the Cold War Russia armed the enemies of Israel and acted on behalf of those enemies.

So if you aren't sure of your current superpower buddy 1) remaining a superpower; or 2) remaining your buddy. what do you do?

[grnamin]

Just in case anyone had any doubts, there is so such thing as a private Chinese company. They all exist at the whim of their government, making them an extended arm of said gov.

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[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Just in case anyone had any doubts, there is no so such thing as a private Chinese company. They all exist at the whim of their government, making them an extended arm of said gov.

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FIFY

And anyone who is anyone from middle management up is in the communist party.

[grnamin]

FIFY

And anyone who is anyone from middle management up is in the communist party.Can't get anywhere until you are card-carrying. They don't leave home without it. :D

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[Moose-Knuckle]

I could write a book about the many ways this is a very bad idea.

Reminded me of this . . .

(note this was published twelve years ago)
Most U.S. Port Terminals Are Foreign-Run

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5234177

[grnamin]

I think it's a matter of national security that all our ports are managed by us and us alone.

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[Ed L.]

I think it's a matter of national security that all our ports are managed by us and us alone.

I agree. I can't imagine why Israel would let China or a Chinese company do this for the reasons already mentioned.

[MountainRaven]

The Norwegians sold a $500 million submarine base for $5 million to a conglomerate that now rents the base out to Gazprom (which is owned and operated by the Russian government). Link (https://qz.com/376743/how-norway-lost-control-of-its-own-secret-500-million-arctic-navy-base/).

So it's not that crazy for Israel to let China operate a port.