• Israel accepts Chinese demand not to employ Chinese laborers in settlements -
    Agreement avoids explicit Israeli consent to a settlement boycott, but annex lists where Chinese laborers will be employed: None of the locations is in the West Bank
    Barak Ravid and Yotam Berger Apr 23, 2017 11:15 AM
    http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.785055

    The cabinet on Sunday ratified an agreement with China relating to the employment of Chinese construction workers in Israel. The agreement was made possible after Israel agreed to a condition demanded by the Chinese government that in practice provides that Chinese construction workers in Israel will not be employed in settlements in the West Bank or East Jerusalem.

    Israel and China engaged in negotiations for several years over an agreement on Chinese citizens coming to work in Israel. In 2015, the talks faltered over China’s demand that Chinese laborers in Israel not be employed in the settlements. The official reason given by the Chinese was concern for the workers’ personal safety, but officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed the view that the real reason was political, relating to the fact that China and the rest of the international community view the settlements as illegal and their locations as occupied territory.

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