Opinion: How China is quietly aiding Israel's settlement enterprise
“No need, Razan, for you to go to China - come to Huwara, China is here.” Though said jokingly by my friend Ahmad, who asked his full name be withheld for security reasons, these words carried a heavy truth.
Huwara is a small Palestinian village near Nablus, surrounded by some of the most violent and ideologically extreme Zionist settlements in the country, including Yitzhar.
When I asked what he meant, he told me: “Chinese workers are living and working in nearby settlements. I see them regularly in the village streets, shopping at local Palestinian stores.”
That offhand remark a couple of months ago pushed me to investigate further. I spoke with Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and collected their testimonies. Ali, who lives in Ramallah near the Beit El settlement, told me: “I’ve seen dozens of Chinese workers building homes and infrastructure in Beit El.”
Read more: How China is quietly aiding Israel's settlement enterprise
Away from Beijing's lofty rhetoric about defending Palestinians, Chinese firms are helping to sustain illegal settlements, writes Razan Shawamreh in her latest column
