Geopolitics in Israel

This chapter examines the geopolitics of Israel in relation to what it establishes are the two main pillars of its foreign relations: shared security concerns and the need for diplomatic support. It begins by demonstrating the nature of the existential threat that led to Israel pursuing alliances based on these concerns, before showing that both of these needs are ongoing even in a post-October 7 environment. It ends by assessing Israel’s relations with global and rising powers, and suggests that, though October 7 has proven to be a turning point for Israeli understandings of the geopolitical realities of its neighborhood, in terms of major alliances with rising powers, little improvement is likely. By contrast, the current geopolitical reality may have a greater impact on Israel’s strongest diplomatic and security alliance, with the USA, owing to both Israeli and domestic politics. It concludes by warning that Israel is still under existential threat, and that the need for shared alliances and diplomatic support currently seems greater than at any point in Israel’s history.