According to foreign media reports, Israel is continuing to apply pressure on Beijing as Jerusalem hopes to win over China’s approval for crippling economic sanctions against Iran.

According to a Times online report, this week’s upcoming visit by Chief of IDF Planning Branch Major-General Amir Eshel will include the senior official showing evidence gathered by the Mossad, a move that required the personal approval of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Israel realizes that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, it is vital to obtain China’s support to prevent a veto of such sanctions.

The report also states that last week, US President Barak Obama spoke on the phone with Chinese President Hu Jintao for an hour, working to persuade him to support the American-backed sanctions.

A Chinese general was dispatched to Tel Aviv last week in a move described as “extremely rare” to permit the senior military official to obtain a better understanding of Israel’s striking capabilities.

One should remember that China still relies heavily on Iran for crude oil and as a trade partner. As such, supporting such sanctions could have a significant economic impact on China as well. The main supplier of crude oil to China is Saudi Arabia.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)