ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the change in the political and economic focus of Israel from Europe to Asia, a process accelerated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he returned to office in 2009. Special attention is placed in the chapter on Israel’s relations with India and China. India has become a major economic and security partner of Israel, importing USD billions in Israeli weaponry, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares Netanyahu’s concern about the Islamic threat. Israel has also sought to develop both economic and military ties with China, although US pressure forced Israel to back off from the sale of an AWACS battle command aircraft before Netanyahu had taken office, an action that temporarily chilled Israeli-Chinese relations. However, high-tech trade between the two countries has rapidly developed under Netanyahu.
