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Ethnic & Religious Conflicts
Israel & Palestine: A 50-Year Conflict
Background Israel was called “Palestine” before 1948. Both Jews and Arabs have religious roots to Palestine/Israel; each
group claims it as their homeland. Jews kicked out of Palestine many years ago; in the meantime,
Muslims settled there
The beginning Jews wanted to come back to their homeland because they were
being persecuted against Zionist idea: coming back would make them safe
Arabs unhappy! Jews begin to immigrate in anyway
Israel & Palestine
WW1 & WW2 WW1 established Britain as the country to control Palestine WW2 allowed British and American sentiment to the Jews
Why? more Jewish immigration into Palestine!
United Nations create boundary proposal in 1947; Palestinians (Muslims) reject it
Establishment of Israel Britain establishes the Jewish state of Israel in May, 1948 WAR!
The Events & Agreement
Constant warfare over time
Resolutions & Agreement Camp David Agreement: Jimmy Carter (1978)
Between Egypt & Israel Sinai would be released to Egypt; agreed to negotiate about having
an autonomous government in the West Bank & Gaza Strip Camp David Summit: Bill Clinton (2000)
Tried for negotiations…but still divided today, especially when violence resumed in 2002
http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2011/sep/14/map-israel-palestinian-territories
Iranian Revolution: Background Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, restored into
power with the help of the USA
What he did: Created a one-party state Gave women freedoms Created a modern economy
Seen as a “puppet” for the West (USA, in particular)
Also disliked by conservatives, who didn’t believe women should have ANY power
Lived a LAVISH lifestyle
Iranian Revolution 1978: People who opposed the
Shah began protests in the capital city of Tehran Conservatives, led by
Ayatollah Khomeini, unhappy with women’s freedoms
Middle class: wanted more freedom
January 1979 Shah and family flee Iran Khomeini establishes a
theocracy ruled by Islamic religious leaders
Iran Under Khomeini
Country now led by Khomeini and an army of “spiritual enforcers” (Revolutionary Guards)
Women lost rights Couldn’t vote Required to wear full head coverings and full-body
cloaks
Viewed United States as “the Great Satan” and an “enemy of Islam”
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Iranians angry with USA after the US allowed the former Shah to come to the country for cancer treatment
November 4, 1979 Iranian college students swarm US Embassy in Tehran, capture 66 Americans
14-month standoff: USA vs. Iran Botched rescue operation by USA to 8 American deaths Yellow ribbons worn for support of captured Americans Hostages released after 444 days—the moment Ronald Reagan took the oath
of office (January 20, 1981)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8bC1DEYbI4
What happened next?
Shah died in 1980
Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989, but tensions remained between US government & Iranian government Current issue: nuclear weapons
Civilians in Iran see USA more favorably (they like our freedom)
Current SUPREME leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Lifetime appointment
Current head of government: Hassan Rouhani (NOT Ahmadinejad)
Gulf Wars Iraq-Iran War: 1980-1988
War over border disputes between Iraq & Iran from 1980-1988
Persian Gulf War: 1990s Iraq vs. Kuwait Began when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, took over oil fields U.S., other Middle Eastern countries teamed up together to get
Hussein out of Kuwait; succeed! Also placed an embargo, or trade ban, against Iraq
“As long as oil is still the #1 energy producer, oil-purchasing countries will work to protect it!”
Arab Spring(Still Ongoing)
Brief Background Series of protests in the Middle East
December 2010-present
Began with “burning man” protest in Tunisia Protests of police corruption
Why? Some factors: Absolute rule no voice in the people Government corruption Human rights violations Wealthy gov. with people in poverty Unemployment
To date: Governments overthrown in Tunisia, Libya & Egypt Civil disorder in Syria & Yemen Major protests in Algeria and Iraq (and now Syria)
Egypt
Height: January 25-February 11, 2011
Inspired by “burning man” protest in Tunisia
Mainly non-violent demonstrations, civil marches
Call for President Mubarak’s resignation
Government response Internet is shut down from January 27-February 5, 2011 Foreign journalists jailed, some beaten (eventually released) Mubarak claims he would not step down
A day after refusing to step down, Mubarak resigns as president & leaves Cairo
Current President: Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi currently in the process of joint forces against ISIS/ISIL
Libya February 2011-October 2011
Protest corrupt leadership of Muammar Gaddafi Natural resource, petroleum, contributed to high GDP per capita; people still living in poverty, still
high unemployment rates Also poor healthcare system, untreated sewage
Protests CIVIL WAR
UN’s role: Security Council froze assets of Gaddafi, which prevented them from travelling too far Established no-fly zone to protect attacks on civilians
Interim governing body replaced Gaddafi government in September
Gaddafi captured & killed on October 20,2011
Still clashes and conflicts in the region; current PM: Abdullah al-Thani
“We’ll stay here until the pain is gone.”
Rebels celebrating the death of Gaddafi
ONGOING: Syria March 2011-present
Began with protesting the torture of students who had put up anti-government graffiti
Crackdowns by President Bashar al-Assad open fire on demonstrators
CIVIL WAR! Christians, others fleeing to Iraq; economic sanctions placed against Syria Parts of eastern Syria currently under ISIS control Infectious diseases and deaths resulting from these have risen due to a lack
of sanitation, decreasing access to health care, and an overall decline in standard of living
ISIS/ISIL
Radical Islamic group terrorizing Middle Eastern Countries (break-away group from Al Qaeda, who have since condemned them)
Ultimate goal: creation of a Sunni Islamic state in Iraq & Syria(didn’t gain much traction until June, 2014)
US, other western countries respond with air strikes: September 2014
Almost 1,500 militants have died as a result, but terrorist attacks and public beheadings have continued as ISIS acquires more land in the region