Published: 28 May 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
US ambassador calls on Israel to block Chinese moves into 5G network market (Haaretz)
Issue raised by David Friedman in talk with new communications minister, as Washington-Beijing tensions soar amid coronavirus crisis
China loses bid to run Israel's biggest desalination plant after US pressure (Ynet)
The move comes 2 weeks after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo apparently voiced his concerns about the deal to Netanyahu; although decision eases tension with U.S., it could lead to potentially confrontation with China; Shorek 2 plant appears to be the biggest in the world of its kind
US-China competition demands tough decisions of Israel, and Netanyahu has little choice (Haaretz)
Israel thought it could navigate between the powers, but the coronavirus crisis has sharpened tensions, and Trump's re-election campaign is centred on blaming China
Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Mike Pompeo in Lisbon, Portugal, December 4, 2019 (Kobi Gideon/GPO)


