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IN ITS EARLIER YEARS ISRAEL WAS SPARED THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS RADICALISM. IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, HOWEVER, RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES HAVE BEGUN TO CLAIM A ROLE IN FOREIGN POLICY, CULMINATING IN THE 4 NOVEMBER 1995 ASSASSINATION OF PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN. THE PRIMARY AIM OF THIS STUDY, IS TO EXPLORE THE SYSTEMIC POLITICAL PRECESSES AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS THAT IN THE PAST HAVE SUBDUES NATIONAL RELIGIOUS RADICALISM IN ISRAEL. THE GENERAL ARGUMENT OF THIS ESSAY IS THAT THE TRADITION OF POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION WITH THE RELIGIOUS PARTIES FOSTERED THEIR PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT COALITIONS, AND BY DOING SO, MOBILIZED A LARGE PORTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SECTOR TO SUPPORT THE STATE. EQUALLY IMPORTANT IN SUPPRESSING RELIGIOUS RADICALISM IN ISRAEL WERE THE TWO MAIN DOCTRINES OF RELIGIOUS ZIONISM, THE INSTRUMENTAL AND THE REDEMPTIONIST, WHICH APPLAUDED COOPERATION WITH SECULAR ZIONISM AND THE STATE, HENCE ENABLING POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION AND AVOIDING A COMPREHENSIVE VIOLENT CONFRONTATION. THE ABSENCE OF A RELIGIOUS PARTY IN THE RABIN GOVERNMENT BROUGHT THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL DISCOURSE TO AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF INTENSITY, STRENGTHENING A NEW BLEND OF RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM THAT POSED A POTENTIAL FOR DILIGITIMIZATION OF THE STATE.

This book has several main themes and arguments. International Relations has been westerncentric, which has contributed to its ignoring religion; while religion is not the main driving force behind IR, international politics cannot be understood without taking religion into account; the role of religion is related to the fact that IR has evolved to become more than just interstate relations and now included elements of domestic politics. The book proceeds in three stages. First, it looks at why religion was ignored by IR theory and theorists. Second, it examines the multiple ways religion influences IR, including through religious legitimacy and the many ways domestic religious issues can cross borders. In this discussion a number of topics including but not limited to international intervention, international organizations, religious fundamentalism, political Islam, Samuel Huntington's 'clash of civilizations' theory, and terrorism are addressed. Third, these factors are examined empirically using both quantitative and case study methodology.