In order to make money while advertising their own moral superiority, many investment firms make a point of seeking to put their clients’ money in concerns that received good marks in “environmental, social, and corporate-governance” (ESG) terms. This means, in practice, that financial-services companies like Morningstar issue ESG ratings—based on the political flavors of the day—that then shape the decisions of investors. Morningstar’s ESG arm has come under fire, and also found itself running afoul of the laws of various states, for considering doing business with Israeli Jews a sign of social irresponsibility. Richard Goldberg comments:

Morningstar [recently] reaffirmed negative ratings for seven Israeli firms due to their operations in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, or their support for Israeli counterterrorism operations. Now it’s up to governors, attorneys general, and treasurers to rid this company of Israel boycotts once and for all.

Spain-based Construcciónes y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) is, [for instance] subject to a human-rights-controversy rating because it builds and operates trams in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. . . . Morningstar said CAF, like Bezeq and B Communications, [to which it gave similar bad ratings], was contributing to the maintenance and expansion of “settlements”—suggesting it is company policy to consider eastern Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, to be an Israeli “settlement” rather than Israel’s capital. Morningstar’s spokesperson also compared CAF helping Israel to expand light-rail access for Israeli-Arabs in Jerusalem to involvement in “rail projects that support Myanmar’s junta as it uses trains to move its troops, arms, and other supplies.”

In all these cases, Morningstar makes no allegation that these companies are involved in any violation of human rights. Instead, the alleged violation is merely providing non-controversial services or infrastructure in specific territory controlled by Israel. . . . This could trigger divestment and contracting bans in certain U.S. states, whose laws consider differential treatment of companies operating in Israeli-controlled territory to be a form of boycott.

On Tuesday, representatives of Hamas met with their counterparts from Fatah—the faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) once led by Yasir Arafat that now governs parts of the West Bank—in Beijing to discuss possible reconciliation. While it is unlikely that these talks will yield any more progress than the many previous rounds, they constitute a significant step in China’s increasing attempts to involve itself in the Middle East on the side of Israel’s enemies.

By contrast, writes Tuvia Gering, Taiwan has been quick and consistent in its condemnations of Hamas and Iran and its expressions of sympathy with Israel:

Support from Taipei goes beyond words. Taiwan’s appointee in Tel Aviv and de-facto ambassador, Abby Lee, has been busy aiding hostage families, adopting the most affected kibbutzim in southern Israel, and volunteering with farmers. Taiwan recently pledged more than half a million dollars to Israel for critical initiatives, including medical and communications supplies for local municipalities. This follows earlier aid from Taiwan to an organization helping Israeli soldiers and families immediately after the October 7 attack.

The reasons why are not hard to fathom:

In many ways, Taiwan sees a reflection of itself in Israel—two vibrant democracies facing threats from hostile neighbors. Both nations wield substantial economic and technological prowess, and both heavily depend on U.S. military exports and diplomacy. Taipei also sees Israel as a “role model” for what Taiwan should aspire to be, citing its unwavering determination and capabilities to defend itself.

On a deeper level, Taiwanese leaders seem to view Israel’s war with Hamas and Iran as an extension of a greater struggle between democracy and autocracy.

Gering urges Israel to reciprocate these expressions of friendship and to take into account that “China has been going above and beyond to demonize the Jewish state in international forums.” Above all, he writes, Jerusalem should “take a firmer stance against China’s support for Hamas and Iran-backed terrorism, exposing the hypocrisy and repression that underpin its vision for a new global order.”