Preventive Diplomacy in the Context of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention in the Middle East: The Case of Israel

Abstract

While possessing vast natural resources and a significant geopolitical position, the Middle East faces recurring cycles of violence, instability, diplomatic tensions, and armed conflicts that affect not only local countries but also the global order. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of Israel's preventive diplomacy initiatives on reducing tensions and incidents of violence in the Middle East. The research employed a longitudinal case study (2020–2025), supported by inductive and analysis-synthesis methods, complemented by descriptive statistical analysis of diplomatic, commercial, and security data released by specialized institutions as the IMF and EU. The results indicate that the preventive diplomacy initiatives implemented by the State of Israel, although heterogeneous, show a measurable association with the reduction of incidents in pacified areas and with the strengthening of regional cooperation mechanisms in the Middle East. However, they also reveal structural vulnerabilities, most notably the instability of informal peace and the persistence of high risk levels at active borders. Overall, the evidence suggests that Israeli preventive diplomacy is effective, but its performance is limited by the lack of lasting institutionalization and the nature of the actors involved.