Israeli Foreign Policy: A Survey of Contemporary Israeli Diplomacy and Bilateral Relations Kindle Edition

Given its centrality to Israeli life over the past sixty years, the Arab-Israeli conflict has held a prominent place in the literature on Israel, overshadowing somewhat the study of Israeli foreign policy. This text is the first to offer a comprehensive account of Israel’s contemporary diplomacy and its bilateral relations with other countries. The prevailing view is that the prime (if not sole) purpose of Israel’s foreign policy is to secure the support of other states in its conflict with the Palestinians and the broader Arab world. Accordingly, much of the discussion regarding Israel’s relations with states (such as the U.S., Russia, China, etc.) has been filtered through the prism of the Arab-Israeli conflict, overlooking the bilateral component of those ties. This exhaustive survey sets to explain and analyze all facets of Israel’s foreign policy, from its historical setting and agenda to today’s new challenges. It shows the impact on the direction of foreign policy of domestic, societal, and economic interests, the changing narratives of identity, and the differing ways Israeli leaders and the public have viewed themselves and the world. It also addresses how Israel’s security needs have influenced the foreign policy choices and the instrument it has used to build relationships with countries around the world, especially since the end of the Cold War. Looking at the evolution of Israel’s foreign policy, from its search for strategic partnerships and peripheral alliances to the militarization of its foreign policy and contemporary emerging relationships, the book provides a unique and thorough study of Israeli statecraft. Read more