ABSTRACT
All states employ diplomacy to advance national interests, the most important being security. Proceeding in four stages, this chapter addresses contemporary Israeli diplomacy and what makes it distinctive. We first consider how attributes particular to the country shape Israeli statecraft, warranting its inclusion as a “force multiplier” for security. The second section assesses how well Israeli diplomacy has actually performed, while the third examines the striking similarities between modern Israeli diplomacy and that practiced by leaders of the First and Second Jewish Commonwealths in ancient times. Having thus linked past and present practice, the chapter concludes by outlining Israeli diplomacy’s possible future challenges and prospects.
