1. Conflicts and Change in the Middle East

2. Main Ideas
The creation of Israel has led to conflicts between Jews and Arabs
The search for peace between Jews and Arabs has had some success
A revolution in Iran has led to an Islamic republic
Iraq has been involved in several international conflicts

3. Key Themes and Concepts
Diversity : how has the diversity in the Middle East affected its recent history ?
Conflict : what efforts have been made to end conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbors?
Interdependence : why did the Persian Gulf War involve many nations from around the world ?
Belief systems : How is Islamic fundamentalism effecting life in the Middle East today ?

5. The Impact of Geography
Oil in the region has brought power to some Middle eastern countries.
The world is so concerned with this region due to dependence on oil.

6. In Quest of a Homeland
After WWII many Jewish survivors of the Holocaust migrated to Palestine
Both Jew and Palestinians claim rights to this land which has led to violent clashes.

7. Creation of Israel
1948 Britain withdraws, and the Jews establish the State of Israel
Both the U.S. and USSR recognize the newly created state.

8. First Arab-Israeli War
The Arabs were determined to destroy the state of Israel
1948. The day after Israel proclaimed itself a nation Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria invaded Israel
Israel is victorious

9. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
Led by Yassir Arafat
Used terrorist tactics and fought a guerrilla war against Israelis at home and abroad.

10. Second Arab-Israeli War
1956. The Suez Crisis. Nasser of Egypt nationalizes Suez Canal
Britain and France assist Israel with an invasion.
Israel defeats Egyptians but U.S. and USSR force Israel to withdraw.
Canal is left to Egypt

11. Third Arab-Israeli War
1967. The Six Day War. The Israelis mount a pre-emptive strike against Egypt, Iran, Jordan, and Syria.
Israel takes control of the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan heights

13. Fourth Arab-Israeli War
1973. Egypt and Syria attack Israel on the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur.
Known as the Yom Kippur War
Although Israel was taken off guard, they still manage to repulse the attack

14. Positive Outcomes Egypt and Israel began to seek peace
1979, Egypt and Israel sign the Camp David Accords to end war between the two countries
Israeli prime minister Begin; U.S. president Carter;
Egyptian president Sadat

15. Not So Positive Outcomes
1987. Young Palestinians mount the intifada, or uprising
Teenagers defied Israeli soldiers with tactics ranging rock throwing to suicide bombings.
Crackdowns on the Intifada led to more violence

16. A Step in the Right Direction
1993. Direct talks are held between Israel and the PLO.
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yassir Arafat sign agreement giving Palestinians limited self-rule in Gaza and Jericho
Rabin; Clinton; and Arafat

17. Civil War in Lebanon
Palestinian refugees entering Lebanon after 1967 created a Muslim majority in Lebanon
A civil war between Christians and Muslims began in 1975
Order was restored by 1990

20. Roadmap of Peace
The U.S., UN, EU, and Russia outlined a roadmap of peace.
This would establish a Palestinian state
In return the PLO had to make democratic reforms and halt its use of terrorism

21. Total Security for Israel
2001 Ariel Sharon elected as prime minister of Israel
His objective was to ensure total security of Israel
Some critics feel that he has impeded the peace process

22. The Iranian Revolution
Shah
Khomeini
U.S. helps Muhammad Reza Pahlavi (the Shah) gain control of Iranian government
The Shah was overthrown in 1979 by fundamentalist Ayatollah Khomeini
1989 Khomeini dies, moderates take over

23. Impact of the Revolution
Extreme hostility toward the west
Strict adherence to Muslim traditions
Many rights taken away from women
Iranian militiamen seize American embassy and hold hostages for more than a year
Iran begins to encourage revolutions

24. Islamic Fundamentalism
During the 1970s and especially after the Iranian Revolution many Muslims opposed westernization
They sought to apply Islamic principles to the problems of their nation.
Examples – Libya, Algeria, and Turkey

25. Saddam Hussein and Iraq
Under Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, Iraq was involved in several conflicts in the Middle East

26. Iran-Iraq War 1980. There was a border dispute between Iran and Iraq.
Hussein mobilized his forces and they quickly seized control of the border
War broke out between the two countries that lasted nearly 8 years, and devastated both countries

31. Persian Gulf War 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait and seized its oil fields
The U.S. saw this as a threat to Saudi Arabia and the flow of oil
When Iraq refused to withdraw from Kuwait, the 1991 Persian Gulf War began
The U.S. and its allies quickly won and liberated Kuwait
Hussein remained in power

51. We’ve Come Full Circle
Diversity : how has the diversity in the Middle East affected its recent history ?
Conflict : what efforts have been made to end conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbors?
Interdependence : why did the Persian Gulf War involve many nations from around the world ?
Belief systems : How is Islamic fundamentalism effecting life in the Middle East today ?