1. Conflict in the Middle East
Chapter 15 Section 2

2. A. The Middle East and Palestine
Many new countries in Middle East created after WWII
Syria, Lebanon, Jordan were all predominantly Muslim
Israel, created as a homeland for the Jews
Israel created in Palestine, which both Jews and Muslims claimed as their holy land
Jews given Israel because displaced after WWII
Arab Nations saw creation of Israel as a betrayal by the West
Palestinians fled from Israel into other countries
Many Palestinians remain without a home today and continue to fight

3. B. Nasser and Pan-Arabism
Early 1950s, Gamal Abdel Nasser took control of Egypt
July 26, 1956 Nasser seized the Suez Canal, which was controlled by Britain and France
Britain, France, and Israel attacked Egypt, starting the Suez War of 1956
U.S. and U.S.S.R. joined Nasser and forced British, French, and Israeli troops from Egypt
Nasser became a hero and urged Pan-Arabism, or Arab Unity
1958, Egypt united with Syria and formed the United Arab Republic (UAR)
In 1961, militants took over Syria and withdrew from the Union

4. C. The Arab-Israeli Dispute
1967, Egypt blockades Israel, refuses to allow them to move through Gulf of Aqaba
Israel responded with air strikes, and wiped out the Egyptian air force
Israel broke the blockade and seized the Sinai Peninsula
Next, Israel took over the West Bank of the Jordan River, Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights 6 days
This brought more Palestinians under Israel’s control, many living on the West Bank

5. Over the years, Arab nations demanded Israel give back land
1970, Nasser dies and Anwar el-Sadat takes over Egypt
1973, Sadat attacks Israel
1974, U.N. forces a cease-fire
During the war, Arab nations in OPEC refused to sell oil to the U.S. and Western Europe for their support of Israel
This caused a huge crisis
1977, President Jimmy Carter got Sadat and Israeli Prime minister Menachem Begin to agree to a truce
Called the Camp David Accords
Ended the war btwn Egypt and Israel

6. D. The PLO and the Intifada
1964, Egyptians formed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
Believed that there should be a separate Palestinian nation
Led by Yasir Arafat, carried out terrorist attacks on Israel
In the 1980s, PLO led a movement called the Intifada
This was an uprising of PLO leaders that continued through 2000
In the 90s, U.S. forced PLO and Israel to peace talks and achieved a peace
Even though peace, little or no progress toward Palestinian statehood
Palestinians still carry out attacks today

7. E. Turmoil in Iran and Iraq
Iran had been a strong U.S. ally in 50s and 60s
Sold oil to the U.S.
Some Iranians thought relationship with U.S. tainted Iran
One such Iranian was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Ayatollah a Shiite Muslim title given to religious leaders
1979, Iran goes through a revolution and Khomeini takes over
Nov. 79 was when Khomeini took over U.S. embassy and 52 hostages

8. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein had been in power since 1979
Iran and Iraq have fought over territory and religious issues
Iran mostly Shiite Muslims and Iraq mostly Sunnis
1980, Hussein launched a brutal attack on Iran using poison gas and other chemical warfare on civilians
War fought because ethnic Kurds wanted their own country
War dragged on, but cease fire in 1988