Judaism: State and foreign policy

Judaism is a multifaceted phenomenon. It expresses itself as a religion, a nation, and a political entity at the same time. It is even more challenging as after almost two millennia of Diaspora existence Jews are now acting in world politics as both a state and as an identified worldwide ethno-religious community. A historic perspective on the intersection between Judaism and politics that goes beyond the contemporary era is problematic. According to Elazar the Covenant between God and the Jews is the basis of their political regime. This chapter concentrates on the special bond between Judaism and the Land of Israel. The relationship between Judaism and the state cannot be fully understood without the territorial component, namely the role of the Land of Israel in Jewish political norms and behaviour.