Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
Israel-Brazil
Diplomatic relations began in 1950 and have focused recently on science and technology cooperation. In 2005 the two signed a joint industrial research and development agreement with the aim of increasing ties between private companies in both countries. Bilateral trade exceeded $1 billion in 2007. Brazil is Israel’s largest commercial partner in the Americas. Israel has since signed a free trade agreement with MERCOSUR, which Brazil helped to broker. Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim visited Israel in February, 2008 and Brazil has been supportive of the peace process, attending the Annapolis summit and Paris donors’ conference.
Israel-China:
Diplomatic relations were established in 1992, and have developed steadily since. China is Israel’s largest trading partner in Asia. The two countries have extensive economic interaction that has grown dramatically in recent years, with mutual trade at $3.39 billion in 2006. Most of the trade between the two countries is technological and industrial, but once-frequent arms sales have been restricted since 2000 due to U.S. concerns. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met recently with top leadership in China and discussed Iran, but also strengthening of economic and cultural ties. She urged China to use its Security Council influence and economic ties to curb the Iranian nuclear program.
Israel-Germany:
West Germany established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1965. But even earlier, the two maintained what is described by both as a “special relationship.” Deep social and cultural ties have been formed through youth exchanges, sister-city relationships and joint research programs. These ties along with common civil and human rights views have helped to overcome the legacy of the Holocaust. Germany is Israel’s second-largest trading partner, with $6.6 billion in bilateral trade in 2007. It often lobbies within the European Union to protect Israeli interests such as liberalizing EU trade with Israel. Germany and Israel have worked together on defense and counterterrorism concerns, with joint training and Germany’s sale of two nuclear-capable submarines to Israel in 2006. This week Israel hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who pledged to stand by Israel, especially with regard to Iran’s weapons program.
Israel-India:
Relations between Israel and India began in 1992, hampered previously by their alliances with opposing cold war powers and India’s concern for its large Muslim population and reliance on Middle East oil. Cooperation has grown rapidly since, focusing on defense and terrorism concerns. Israel has sold India a number of sophisticated weapons systems and the two have formed a joint working group on terrorism. Relations were cemented in 2003 with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to India. India and Israel met most recently on March 13, 2008 for a meeting of its joint working group on counterterrorism in New Delhi.
Israel-Indonesia:
While the two do not have formal diplomatic relations, ties have been growing recently, with meetings between Israeli and Indonesian diplomats at the United Nations and a convention organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific hosted in Jakarta. These meetings are seen as opening relations at a time when Indonesia sits on the Security Council and participates in the UN mission in southern Lebanon. Historically, Indonesia’s large Muslim population has been viewed as a posing challenge to official relations; and the informal ties have ebbed and flowed with levels of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Economic relations, which began in 1999, are growing and mutual trade between the countries was $154 million in 2005.
Israel-Japan:
While relations were established in 1952, activity in the relationship has increased recently as Japan and Israel have agreed to technological cooperation, with a joint working group and particular focus on space research, and shared bilateral senior level visits in the past few years. Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Israel in January 2006 and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Japan in February 2008 to discuss the Middle East peace process, the dangers of Iran’s nuclear development program and the promotion of bilateral trade between the two countries. Bilateral trade was $2.8 billion in 2007.
Israel-Russia:
Relations have improved since the end of the Cold War, with diplomatic relations restored in 1991. Mutual trade is $1 billion. Visa requirements for travel between the two countries were recently waived. Russia and Israel grew closer as Russia fought in Chechnya, but relations cooled and tensions remain over Russia’s relationships with Syria and Iran. Russia has a long history of selling sophisticated weapons to Syria. It is a key player with respect to Iran’s nuclear weaponization, selling nuclear facilities to Iran and watering down UN sanctions. Recent diplomatic efforts have focused on changing Russia’s direction on Iran, with Prime Minister Olmert meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following Putin’s visit to Iran in October 2007. Russia is a member of the Quartet and takes part in peace process negotiations. Today, Russian immigrants make up 20 percent of the total Israeli population.
Israel-South Africa:
Formal diplomatic relations began in the mid 1970s. Throughout the 1970s, Israel and South Africa developed a strong military relationship. Relations trailed off as international pressure on South Africa increased, but have improved since the end of apartheid, largely due to South Africa’s desire to see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolved. South African leader Nelson Mandela visited Israel in 1999 and then Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited South Africa in 2004. The two have signed a trade accord that could lead to a free trade agreement and bilateral trade was approximately $500 million as of 2004.
Israel-Turkey:
Historically steady ties between Turkey and Israel strengthened during the 1990s, with the appearance of shared regional threats in Iran, Iraq and Syria. Turkey has also often played a role as a mediator between Israel and the Muslim world. During a visit by Israeli President Shimon Peres late last year, Turkish President Abdullah Gul relayed a message from Syria indicating it desired peace. Defense cooperation underlies the Israeli-Turkish relationship, with frequent joint training exercises and Israeli arms sales. Turkey and Israel signed a free trade agreement in 1996 and have over $1 billion in mutual trade.