Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book addresses the problem of whether it is possible to identify a Jewish political tradition in its interaction with surrounding nations. It evaluates Jewish foreign policy against all three dominant schools of thought, central in today's study of international relations. The book shows the continuous debate between identity and political considerations and endeavors to prove which had the upper hand. It discusses the territorial and the Palestinian issues, but from an ethno-religious dimension and investigates how religion and politics have influenced Israeli foreign policy. Providing a framework of a Jewish foreign policy tradition will provide a contending perspective to current approaches to the foreign policy of the State of Israel. Deciphering the Jewish sources of Israel's foreign policy will also eliminate many of the harshest criticisms of Israel's foreign policy.