An ongoing aspect of Israel's relations with many developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America is the sharing of its accumulated knowledge and expertise in fields such as agriculture, regional planning, public health, and community development. Since its establishment, Israel has been eager to share with the international community skills learned from its own development experience. This desire led to the founding, in 1958, of MASHAV - Israel's National Agency for International Cooperation - as a department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for the planning and implementation of Israel's international cooperation program. MASHAV's programs are based on the transfer of technological skills and human resource enrichment.

In cooperation with government ministries, professional and academic institutions, and research centers throughout Israel, MASHAV works in partnership with countries in the developing world and with those whose economies are in transition, towards overcoming their respective development challenges in areas such as poverty alleviation, primary health care, food security, early childhood education, combating desertification, gender equality, small and medium enterprises, and integrated rural development. In the context of the Middle East peace process, MASHAV places priority on establishing development programs with its neighbors, in an effort to promote peaceful cooperation through economic and social development.

Since the State of Israel was admitted to the United Nations (UN) as its 59th member on 11 May 1949, it has participated in a wide range of UN operations and has endeavored to make its full contribution to UN organizations dealing with health, labor, food and agriculture, education and science. Israel plays an active role in the work of nongovernmental organizations, conducted under UN auspices, which deal with issues ranging from aviation to immigration, from communications to meteorology, from trade to the status of women.

The United States' immediate recognition of the new state of Israel in 1948 marked the beginning of a relationship based on common values and characterized by deep friendship and mutual respect. Both nations are vibrant democracies whose political and legal systems are anchored in liberal traditions; both began as pioneer societies; and both are still integrating new immigrants. Israel and the United States share a wide range of foreign policy objectives, including the resolution of the conflict through peaceful means, although at times the two countries have 'agreed to disagree,' settling their differences as friends and allies. The strong ties between the two countries are also expressed in the bonds between the peoples of Israel and the US, as well as in partnerships in the technological, economic, ecological, security, cultural and scientific fields.

Canada recognized Israel de jure in 1949 and Israel and Canada have had full diplomatic relations for many years, based on common democratic values, with bilateral links enhanced by cultural and scientific exchanges.

Today Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with almost all of the countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean region. These relations are reflected in productive cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres, as well as in a large number of bilateral agreements in many areas.

Western Europe is Israel's most natural trading partner given its close geographic proximity and similar political systems. The Israel-European Union (EU) Association Agreement, signed in 1995, came into force in June 2000, allowing for heightened political dialogue, as well as closer economic relations. In the mid-1990s, Israel joined the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the EU. In December 2004, the Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Policy was concluded between Israel and the European Union. In November 2007, the EU-Israel Business Dialogue was established with the aim of promoting understanding and cooperation between the private sectors of the parties.

Along with the United States, Russia, and the United Nations, the European Union is a member of the Quartet which seeks to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict through the peace process.

Relations between Israel and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which were renewed as soon as these countries restored their democracies, are becoming increasingly close, especially in economic matters, culture, tourism, and international cooperation activities. Economic agreements with these countries are of particular importance, given that many of them are members of the European Union or candidates for future membership.

Israel's ties with the Russian Federation are of strategic importance given its active involvement in the diplomatic process in the Middle East (as a member of the Quartet) and in dealings with Iran over its nuclear program. Israel's relations with the Eurasian states (former Soviet Union) have gained momentum, particularly in the political, economic and cultural realms. Official visits and new agreements have laid a solid foundation for expanding these relations. Trade and investment ties are showing impressive growth. More than a million former Soviet citizens now living in Israel form a human bridge between Israel and their countries of origin, adding a special dimension to the relations. Israel continues to enhance its relations with Central Asian Caucasus states, where there is great demand for Israeli MASHAV aid in the fields of public health, advanced agriculture, water resource management and the fight against desertification.

Israel's ties with the Sub-Saharan African countries date from the mid1950-s; and have undergone various transitions. Since the 1980s, diplomatic relations have been gradually renewed, gaining momentum as peace negotiations between Israel and its Arab neighbors progressed. By the late 1990s, official ties had been reestablished with 39 countries south of the Sahara. Today, Israel and the Sub-Saharan countries are engaged in an ongoing political dialogue, expressed in reciprocal visits by heads of state and government ministers. Furthermore, dynamic activities exist, including economic and commercial ties, cultural and academic contacts, multiple joint agricultural projects, medical assistance, professional training programs and humanitarian aid in times of need.

Israel maintains diplomatic relations with most Asian states. The growing economic strength and political influence of these countries has contributed to the intensification of ties in the political, cultural and, above all, economic spheres. Technical cooperation with Israel in the areas of scientific R&D, rural development, agriculture and education has played an important role in strengthening relations with the developing countries of the region.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979, marking the end of 30 years of relentless hostility and five costly wars. President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their achievement. Although Egypt was ostracized by other Arab states following the signing of the treaty, all have since reestablished relations with Egypt and reopened their embassies in Cairo. Having to overcome 30 years of distrust and hostility, normalization of relations between Israel and Egypt is a long and arduous process. Yet, embassies and consulates were established by both countries, and high-ranking meetings take place regularly.

The peace treaty between Jordan and Israel was signed in 1994. Although de facto at war with each other for 46 years, Israel and Jordan had maintained secret contacts and concluded mutually beneficial agreements throughout that period. The most significant expression of the peaceful relations is the establishment of Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs), which enables Jordan, via cooperation with Israel, to export to the US quota-free and tarifffree commodities worth more than one billion dollars. Israel is also cooperating with Jordan in agricultural projects and in public health.

There have been varying degrees of contact with the Gulf States since the Oslo peace process. In 1994, three North African Arab states - Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia - joined other Arab countries and chose to take the path of peace and reconciliation by forming diplomatic ties with Israel. As with all the Arab states, even when ties are officially broken off due to political events, some commercial relations and tourism continue, as well as contacts in other fields.

The establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and the Holy See in December 1993 may be viewed as a step of major significance in an historic process of change in the Church's attitude to Judaism and the Jewish people. In March 2000, Pope John Paul II came to Israel on a personal pilgrimage of the Holy Places, meeting with President Ezer Weizman and Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Other events included meetings with the chief rabbis and visits to Yad Vashem and to the Western Wall. The visit emphasized the continuing process of understanding between Judaism and the Catholic Church. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, visited Israel in May 2009, and was welcomed to the Holy Land as a friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. His visit marked an important stage in the development of the relationship between the Vatican and Israel, strengthening the dialogue between Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as part of the effort to achieve peace in the region.

Recent estimates put the total world Jewish population at over 13 million, of whom 42 percent live in Israel, and nearly 40 percent in the United States. The relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel operates on many levels, and the ongoing dialogue between them includes a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern.

For its part, Israel seeks to strengthen its ties with Diaspora Jewish communities by promoting Jewish-Zionist activities, fostering the study of the Hebrew language, encouraging visits by tourists and study missions, attracting financial investment and initiating joint economic projects. Diaspora Jews participate in the building of the country through monetary contributions, social and political support and by settling in Israel, adding their particular skills and cultural backgrounds to the Israel mosaic.