In an altogether new twist in Israeli public diplomacy, a pro-Israel advocacy organization has taken its message to China for the first time.
StandWithUs, based in Los Angeles, brought a group of Israeli students and a photographic exhibition about Israel to the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin early in the new year to coincide with the International Ice and Snow Festival and the 18th anniversary of the renewal of Israel’s diplomatic relations with China.
StandWithUs also sponsored a series of lectures at local universities and forged academic partnerships, all in a clear attempt to educate Chinese visitors about the diversity of Israeli society, culture and landscapes.
Michael Dickson, the Israel director of StandWithUs, said the public relations campaign, featuring the work of Israel’s top 50 photographers, was successful, judging by the many visitors to the exhibition and their positive reaction to it.
“It was clear that there is a greater scope for building cultural links between Israel and China, and that there is a depth of interest among the Chinese people in Israel,” he said in an interview last week.
He added, “The Israeli students touched people, and I believe we will see the benefits of this relationship-building in both the near and far future.”
Zach Cutler, a StandWithUs official, said the exhibition opened with a video message from Israeli Minister of Information and Diaspora Yuli Edelstein and was attended by, among other dignitaries, the governor of Harbin and Israel’s ambassador to China, Amos Nidai.
Harbin, the 10th largest city in China, was chosen as a venue due to its importance as a Jewish community centre in the 1920s and China’s growing importance on the international stage, Dickson explained.
“If Israel is compiling a list of countries that count, China ought to be pretty near the top, because it is rapidly becoming the most important economy in the world.”
As well, he noted, China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and its voice will be heard in the debate on Iran’s nuclear program.
“We identify China as a country in which we can make a difference,” he added.
Dickson said the Chinese are generally misinformed about Israel.
“They have a two-dimensional view of Israelis and Jews, though there is no concept of anti-Semitism in China. Chinese respect Jews, but there is a lot of misinformation in the Chinese media about Israel.
“There are also signs of growing Islamic anti-Israel propaganda on university campuses. So there is much to be gained from engaging the next generation of Chinese leadership.”
Dickson plans more PR campaigns in China.
“Our engagement with China will continue. A follow-up event teaming up Chinese students in Israel with Israelis will take place soon.”
StandWithUs, founded in 2001 to tell Israel’s side of the story in the Arab-Israeli conflict, has branches in the United States, Britain, Australia and Israel.
“We don’t have a formal chapter in Canada, but we do hold events in Canadian universities and communities,” said Dickson.
