Explaining Oman-Israeli Regime Relations through the Lens of Rosenau's Linkage Theory: The Puzzle of Enduring Ties

The mutual relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Zionist regime represent a complex and influential dynamic within the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Oman’s strategic position, coupled with the Zionist regime’s role within the security framework of the West Asian region, renders these relations critical with significant political, security, and strategic implications. This article seeks to explore the factors influencing the convergence or divergence in relations between Oman and Israel from the end of the Cold War to 2024. The theoretical framework guiding this research draws from James Rosenau's theory of continuity, which examines the influencing factors of foreign policy at five levels: individual, role, government, society, and international. The research hypothesizes that the personal characteristics of the Sultan, alongside the international variables affecting both Oman and the Zionist regime, as well as the role factor and the broader international environment, have the most substantial impact on shaping their mutual relations. The findings indicate that Oman has fluctuated in its relations with the Zionist regime based on specific geopolitical conditions and the political directive of the Sultan. Conversely, the Zionist regime has actively sought to enhance its relationship with Oman to gain legitimacy, access new networks, and strengthen regional alliances. This qualitative and descriptive-analytical study employs library sources, official documents, and reliable reports for data collection.