Born amidst the ruin of the Second World War and into the Cold War environment of machtpolitik, Israel has since its earliest existence commanded a place on the international stage out of all relation to its size, population or ambitions. This volume examines Israel's experience in foreign affairs in its fifty years of statehood. Contributors ask to what extent an Israeli foreign policy can be said to be a Zionist foreign policy and analyse Israel's international role in the Cold War era.