China could ban thousands of its builders from West Bank settlements
Israel was hit with a fresh boycott blow from a major international trading partner this week, after China said it would ban thousands of its migrant builders from working on settlements in the West Bank.
A senior Israeli government official admitted the problem on Monday, saying: “We are negotiating with China for an agreement on the arrival of thousands of additional workers… For the moment, the talks are stumbling Beijing is demanding that we ensure there are no workers in this region.”
The news will be another headache for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has pledged to step up settlement construction on Palestinian territory captured by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War and occupied ever since.
Israel was hoping to bring in thousands of foreign workers to accelerate the pace of that construction. Currently there are 8,000 foreign workers in Israel, but officials want to boost this to 15,000, in an effort to reduce property prices, which have soared in the last few years.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied that China’s decision was linked to an economic and cultural boycott of the Jewish state, calls for which have been growing in recent months.
“It is more likely linked to Beijing’s diplomatic position that supports the creation of a Palestinian state and opposes Israel’s presence” on Palestinian territory, he said.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
