The Change of British Foreign Policy in the Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Constructivist Analysis of the Role of Religion and Religious Identity

The article examines the role of religion and religious identity in the evolution of British foreign policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian historical conflict. Using the constructivist theoretical framework, an attempt has been made to analyze the impact of identity-religious discourses on the orientations of British foreign policy beyond traditional analyses based on strategic interests. The present study shows that from the Balfour Declaration to the recent reactions to regional crises, religious beliefs and discourses, especially among politicians, religious institutions, and Zionist and Muslim communities, have played a key role in shaping the official political positions of Britain. The findings show that religious and cultural identity as a determining factor, along with strategic interests, has influenced the course of British policies towards this historical conflict. While emphasizing the importance of the interaction between religion and politics, this study provides a new perspective for understanding the complexities of the foreign policy of Western countries.

Keywords:

British Foreign Policy , Israeli-Palestinian Conflict , Religion and Religious Identity , Constructivism , Political Discourse , Balfour Declaration , British Religious Communities