In a significant diplomatic gesture, 72 Israeli Members of Knesset (MKs), representing parties from both the ruling coalition and the opposition, have signed a declaration advocating for Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations. This unprecedented cross-party initiative underscores a growing sentiment of solidarity with Taiwan, particularly in light of its steadfast support for Israel following the massacre of October 7, 2023.
The declaration, spearheaded by MK Boaz Toporovsky (Yesh Atid), chair of the Israel–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, and joined by MK Ohad Tal (Religious Zionist Party), chair of the Israel–US Relations Caucus, explicitly states that "Taiwan's systematic exclusion from international forums is unjustified." The MKs are calling for Taiwan's meaningful participation in global bodies, with a particular emphasis on health, transportation, environmental protection, and human rights.
The declaration, signed at the end of July, praises Taiwan as "a vibrant democracy committed to promoting the values of freedom, equality, human rights, and the rule of law, all in a challenging geopolitical environment." It highlights Taiwan's "impressive contributions during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Taiwan was a global leader in finding solutions and assisting other countries," and arguing that its exclusion from organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is both "unjustified and irresponsible."
Toporovsky emphasized the profound gratitude felt in Israel:
"Israel will always remember who stood by it in its time of need. After October 7, Taiwan was one of the first to stand by Israel and has continued to support us since. Taiwan backed Israel in the diplomatic arena and promoted assistance for victims, resilience centers, health, education, and more."
He expressed pride that the majority of Israeli lawmakers have acknowledged Taiwan's support and shared values of human rights and democracy, calling for increased collaboration across Israel's business, academic, and public sectors with their Taiwanese counterparts.
Tal echoed this sentiment:
"Taiwan is a true friend of Israel and does not hesitate to show it, both in words and in actions. This is our opportunity to show our deep appreciation for Taiwan, to stand by its side, and to support our shared prosperity."
Ya-Ping (Abby) Lee, Taiwan's representative in Israel, welcomed the declaration as an "unprecedented and historic step." She noted that it sends a powerful message to democracies worldwide: "in times of mounting pressure from authoritarian regimes, democracies must stand together in solidarity and speak with one voice." She expressed particular encouragement for the call to deepen ties in economic, technological, and people-to-people fields.
This burgeoning solidarity, however, has drawn a swift and strong rebuke from China. As reported by MEMRI, Chinese social media influencer Haiyan, in a video titled "China Made a Serious Diplomatic Protest to Israel," reflected Beijing's firm opposition to the April 2025 visit by Toporovsky and Tal to Taiwan and their meetings with Taiwanese officials. Haiyan stated that the Chinese Embassy in Israel expressed "firm opposition and strong condemnation," demanding that Israel "correct its erroneous behavior" and stating that "violating the one-China principle – this is absolutely unacceptable". The "one-China principle," a cornerstone of Beijing's foreign policy, asserts that there is only one sovereign state under the name "China," with the communist People's Republic of China as its sole legitimate government, and Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory.
More controversially, Haiyan made explicitly antisemitic false claims, that "the first people who sold opium to China had been Jewish merchants," and that "Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai during WWII had resumed trading in opium and in loan-sharking, rapidly amassing wealth." She concluded with the antisemitic trope: "Some people have been wandering for 2000 years, and it's not without reason."
The Chinese Embassy in Israel Warns Israeli MKs
The Chinese Embassy in Israel strongly criticized the declaration signed by the MKs. "We cannot but ask: who is influencing these members of the Knesset, and what ulterior motives are they concealing?" the embassy said. According to Global Times, a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP):
"By supporting Taiwan's participation in international fora on an equal footing with sovereign states, are these Knesset members aligning themselves with the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in an attempt to split China? Are they willing to become complicit in jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits? The embassy asked.
"The Taiwan question lies at the core of China's core interests and concerns the national sentiments of 1.4 billion Chinese people. No one should underestimate the Chinese people's strong determination, firm will, and powerful capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the embassy noted. "
The Chinese Embassy added:
"We urge certain members of the Knesset to stand on the right side of history and take actions that promote China-Israel relations and benefit the Israeli people, rather than the opposite."
Countering the 'One China' Policy
The CCP is concerned about the declaration signed by members of Knesset from across the political spectrum, which courageously challenged the "one-China principle." By advocating for Taiwan's inclusion in international fora and implicitly referring to Taiwan as a "nation" (as stated in the declaration, "a nation driven by innovation and progress"), the declaration represents a historical moment that breaks Beijing's narrative on Taiwan's political status. This is the first and important step to counter the "one-China" policy. To break this "one-China" policy -- a policy that leaves the door open for China's military to attack Taiwan -- members of parliament from other countries, as many as possible, would do well immediately to band together and issue similar declarations. Such a move in a large number of countries at the same time could prevent a great deal of bloodshed down the road.
