Religious Diplomacy and Interfaith Mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Background: The intensification of religious and sectarian dimensions within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict following the escalation of violence since late 2023 has renewed scholarly and practitioner interest in the role of interfaith religious diplomacy as a complementary track to formal political negotiations between the conflicting parties. Aims/objectives: This research examines the contributions and structural limitations of interfaith religious diplomacy initiatives in supporting broader conflict de-escalation and humanitarian access efforts within the ongoing conflict. Method: A qualitative case study approach was employed, drawing on statements from interfaith coordinating bodies, religious leader public communications, and interviews with religious diplomacy practitioners engaged in mediation efforts during the study period. Results: Findings indicate that interfaith initiatives achieved meaningful success in facilitating localized humanitarian access agreements and maintaining communication channels during periods when formal diplomatic engagement remained suspended, though their influence over core political negotiation outcomes remained marginal relative to state and international organizational actors. Religious leaders faced significant personal and institutional risk in pursuing cross-confessional engagement amid hardening public sentiment. Conclusion: The study concludes that religious diplomacy functions most effectively as a humanitarian access facilitator rather than a substitute for formal political negotiation mechanisms in this conflict context. Greater institutional protection and coordination support for religious mediators is recommended to sustain this complementary diplomatic channel during future periods of acute conflict escalation.

Keywords: religious diplomacy, interfaith mediation, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, humanitarian access, track two negotiation