Conflict in the Conflict in the Middle EastMiddle East

Nationalism in the Middle Nationalism in the Middle EastEast

►Regions in the Middle East consist of Regions in the Middle East consist of three major religions—Islam, three major religions—Islam, Christianity and Judaism—and religious Christianity and Judaism—and religious differences have often led to conflict in differences have often led to conflict in this areathis area

The Formation of IsraelThe Formation of Israel

► Following WWII, Jews were determined to Following WWII, Jews were determined to create a Jewish state, free of oppressioncreate a Jewish state, free of oppression

► As Jews began to settle in Palestine, Arabs As Jews began to settle in Palestine, Arabs there viewed them as intruders and violence there viewed them as intruders and violence between the two groups beganbetween the two groups began

► By 1946, civil war had eruptedBy 1946, civil war had erupted► In 1947, the UN created a partition of In 1947, the UN created a partition of

Palestine; one Jewish state and one Arab Palestine; one Jewish state and one Arab statestate

► Israel was created in 1948, but Palestinians Israel was created in 1948, but Palestinians refused to accept them as a legitimate staterefused to accept them as a legitimate state

The 1948 WarThe 1948 War

► In May 1948 British In May 1948 British troops left Palestine troops left Palestine and armies of 5 Arab and armies of 5 Arab nations (Egypt, Syria, nations (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan) attacked Israel Jordan) attacked Israel in an attempt to restore in an attempt to restore Palestine to the ArabsPalestine to the Arabs

► The Israelis defeated The Israelis defeated Arab forces easily and Arab forces easily and acquired over half of acquired over half of Palestinian landPalestinian land

PalestinePalestine

► The ongoing trouble The ongoing trouble between Israel and between Israel and Palestine led the Palestine led the Palestinians to form the Palestinians to form the PLO (Palestine PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) Liberation Organization) in 1964in 1964

► The goal of the PLO was The goal of the PLO was to to

1)Eliminate Israel1)Eliminate Israel

2)Create Palestinian 2)Create Palestinian StateState

IsraelIsrael

► After defeating the Arabs After defeating the Arabs (mostly Egypt, Jordan and (mostly Egypt, Jordan and Syria) in the Six-Day War, Syria) in the Six-Day War, Israel tripled its land Israel tripled its land holdings, including the holdings, including the Gaza Strip and Sanai Gaza Strip and Sanai Peninsula from Egypt and Peninsula from Egypt and East Jerusalem from JordanEast Jerusalem from Jordan

► Israel also occupied the Israel also occupied the West Bank of the Jordan West Bank of the Jordan River which was land that River which was land that had been designated to the had been designated to the Palestinians by the UN in Palestinians by the UN in 19471947

Yasir Arafat and the PLOYasir Arafat and the PLO

► Over 1 million Over 1 million Palestinians found Palestinians found themselves under Israel themselves under Israel military occupationmilitary occupation

► Yasir Arafat emerged as Yasir Arafat emerged as the leader of the PLO the leader of the PLO and vowed to use armed and vowed to use armed struggle to establish a struggle to establish a Palestinian statePalestinian state

► Terrorist attacks and Terrorist attacks and border raids have border raids have continued on both sides continued on both sides sincesince

Israel/EgyptIsrael/Egypt

► In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched war In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched war against Israelagainst Israel

►Fighting continued until the UN Fighting continued until the UN arranged a cease-fire in 1974arranged a cease-fire in 1974

►US support of Israel angered Arab US support of Israel angered Arab countries so they placed an embargo countries so they placed an embargo on all allies of Israel until 1974on all allies of Israel until 1974

Camp David AccordsCamp David Accords

► In 1978, leaders of In 1978, leaders of Israel (Begin) and Israel (Begin) and Egypt (Sadat) met Egypt (Sadat) met with US President with US President Jimmy Carter to Jimmy Carter to discuss a peace discuss a peace treatytreaty

►Many Arab nations Many Arab nations broke ties with Egypt broke ties with Egypt as a result and Anwar as a result and Anwar el-Sadat was el-Sadat was assassinated in 1981assassinated in 1981

Revolution in IranRevolution in Iran

► In the 1960s and early 1970s the shah In the 1960s and early 1970s the shah (king) of Iran was friendly with the US (king) of Iran was friendly with the US and exported oil to USand exported oil to US

►Shiite Muslims disliked western ideas Shiite Muslims disliked western ideas and values in Iran and wanted to and values in Iran and wanted to return to a traditional way of lifereturn to a traditional way of life

Revolution in IranRevolution in Iran

► In the late 1970s In the late 1970s Ayatollah Khomeini Ayatollah Khomeini began protest began protest movements against the movements against the shah, and in 1979 the shah, and in 1979 the shah fled and Khomeini shah fled and Khomeini seized the governmentseized the government

► This new government This new government was based on was based on traditional Muslim traditional Muslim traditions and lawstraditions and laws

Protests in IranProtests in Iran

► Anti-shah feelings Anti-shah feelings turned into anti-turned into anti-American feelings in IranAmerican feelings in Iran

► In November 1979, In November 1979, militant students militant students stormed the American stormed the American embassy in Tehran and embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans took 52 Americans hostagehostage

► The hostages were held The hostages were held captive for 444 days in captive for 444 days in miserable conditions miserable conditions (released in January (released in January 1981)1981)

Iran TodayIran Today

► Tensions have been Tensions have been strong between the US strong between the US and Iran since its new and Iran since its new leader, Mahmoud leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, came to Ahmadinejad, came to power in 2005power in 2005

► He has called for the He has called for the dissolution of Israel, dissolution of Israel, denied the Holocaust denied the Holocaust ever happened, and ever happened, and dislikes the West and dislikes the West and America in particularAmerica in particular