Jews, Jewishness, and Israel’s Foreign Policy

This article seeks to clarify the nature and manifestations of the Jewish dimension in Israeli foreign policy. Sensitivity to the interests of diaspora communities is generally subordinated to raison d'etat. External Jewish intervention in Israeli foreign policy is negligible, though greater involvement on the part of diaspora leaders can be detected. The impact of Jewish psycho-cultural factors on Israels external relations is decreasing as a result of the secularization of Israeli society and the diminishing weight of Jewish cultural baggage.