Israel’s Foreign Relations: A Historical Overview
1. The Periphery Strategy
The “periphery strategy” was a foreign policy spearheaded by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion following the 1956 Suez Crisis. It focused on developing strategic relations with non-Arab countries located on the periphery of the region, such as Turkey, Iran, and Ethiopia. This alliance was based on the notion of “my enemy’s enemy is my friend” and sought to stop Soviet advances in the Middle East and curb the spread of Nasser’s Pan-Arabism.
The strategy aimed to:
- Strengthen Israeli deterrence
- Reduce Israel’s isolation
- Increase its influence and power on the international stage
Cooperation with these countries was established in the military, economic, and intelligence fields.
The end of the periphery strategy varied depending on the actor involved:
- Israeli-Iranian relations severely deteriorated and formally ended after the 1979 Iranian Revolution with the overthrow of the Shah.
- Israeli-Turkish relations deteriorated after the rise of Erdogan’s Islamic party to power in 2000 but are slowly normalizing after a reconciliation deal.
- Israeli-Ethiopian relations ended when a communist military junta took over power in 1974.
2. UN Security Council Resolution 242
UNSC Resolution 242, adopted unanimously on November 22, 1967, addressed the consequences of the Six-Day War. Its main articles called for:
- Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the 1967 war
- Termination of the state of belligerency
- Mutual “acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area, and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force”
- Achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem
Negotiators involved included Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
Controversies surrounding Resolution 242:
- Extent of Israeli withdrawal: The English version mentions withdrawal “from territories…”, while the French version uses “from the territories” (“des territoires…”), implying withdrawal from all occupied territories.
- Refugee problem solution: Resolution 242 calls for a “just settlement” without referencing UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which some interpret as supporting a “right of return” for Palestinian refugees. Israel does not share this interpretation.
3. Soviet Union-Israel Relations
Establishment (1948): The Soviet Union recognized Israel upon independence, providing crucial military support (via Czechoslovakia) during Israel’s War of Independence. Stalin aimed to diminish British influence in the region.
Severance (1967): Relations were severed after the Six-Day War due to the Cold War rivalry with the US and a desire to court Arab states.
Renewal (1991): Gorbachev’s foreign policy reforms and a desire to broker peace in the Middle East led to the restoration of diplomatic ties after 24 years.
4. Sub-Saharan Africa-Israel Relations
Deterioration (Post-1973): Following the Yom Kippur War and the global oil crisis, most Sub-Saharan African countries severed ties with Israel due to:
- Promises of cheap oil and financial aid from Arab states
- Compliance with the Organization of African Unity’s resolution (sponsored by Egypt) calling for a boycott of Israel
Malawi, Lesotho, and Swaziland maintained full relations, while some countries retained limited contact.
Renewal (Post-1980s): Relations gradually resumed, particularly as peace negotiations between Israel and its Arab neighbors progressed. By the late 1990s, official ties were reestablished with 39 Sub-Saharan African countries.