Israel's 'isolation' is not caused by others, but of its own making

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently claimed that countries such as China and Qatar are "investing in artificial intelligence technologies" and using social media to enforce an "information blockade "against Israel. Such remarks are just a ploy to deflect attention from the real reasons behind Israel's growing international isolation — its actions in Gaza and its long-standing disregard for a just settlement of the Palestinian question.

The Chinese embassy in Israel has firmly denied Netanyahu's accusations. China's position on the Palestine-Israel conflict is clear — it advocates dialogue, reconciliation and a comprehensive political solution rather than confrontation or disinformation. To accuse China of orchestrating some "information blockade" not only misrepresents facts, but also risks further distracting the international community from the urgent task of ending the Gaza conflict.

What Israel today describes as "isolation" is in fact the outcome of its own policies. For months, the world has seen mounting civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is the relentless images of devastated communities, hospitals running out of supplies, and children bearing the brunt of violence that have sparked worldwide outrage not "AI technologies" or "social media manipulation".

China's stance on the Palestinian question has been consistent and constructive. As China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong has stressed, the "two-state solution" remains the only viable way to resolve the conflict. Without the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, there can be no lasting peace or security in the Middle East. China calls for resumption of negotiations, practical measures to de-escalate the crisis, and an end to the cycle of violence.

Israel's rejection of this path, coupled with its unilateral actions, continues to erode trust and undermine the prospects for coexistence. Worse still, Israel has expanded the conflict by launching attacks on Qatar, a country that has played a crucial role in mediating ceasefire efforts. As China's representative to the UN in Geneva, Chen Xu, pointed out at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, Israel's attack constituted a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter. Such actions expose its disregard for the basic norms of international relations.

What is urgently needed now is for all major countries — especially those with special influence on Israel, such as the United States — to act responsibly. Unfortunately, instead of pressing for an immediate ceasefire and supporting the two-state framework, the US has often provided Israel with diplomatic cover in multilateral fora. This not only prolongs the suffering of civilians in Gaza, but also risks spilling the conflict across the region.

China, for its part, continues to work with all like-minded parties to promote dialogue, humanitarian assistance and de-escalation. It supports the UN in playing a central role, advocates fairness and justice, and calls on the international community to keep the Palestinian question high on the global agenda. No side's legitimate security concerns can be safeguarded at the expense of another people's right to survival and dignity.

Netanyahu's attempt to shift the blame onto external parties does not change the reality that Israel stands at a crossroads of its own making. The European Commission's proposal to suspend trade preferences for Israel, and sanction Israeli entities, and the growing solidarity among Islamic and Arab nations in the Middle East should alert Tel Aviv that it is only isolating itself by continuing to ignore international law.

Lasting peace can never be secured through force or distortion, but only through justice, dialogue and respect for a shared humanity. The sooner Israel and its supporters recognize this, the sooner the Middle East can step back from the flames of war and begin the long journey toward reconciliation.

- Li Yang, China Daily