CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

• The region has been the focus of geopolitic since WWII

• Often called the “Shatterbelt” opposing cultural, religious, political and economic forces

• Muslims (sunni, shiite), Jews, Christians, Kurds….

• Much of the region is desert or mountain

• All countries have access to a coastline but freshwater is a major issue• Water shortage = food

shortage• ~80% of food is

imported• Most rivers are shared

• It’s the “Cradle of Civilization”• Three of the world’s

major religions began here – Islam, Judaism, Christianity• The nexus of 3

continents• Oil and Natural Gas

RECENT CONFLICTS:

• Israel – Palestine• Lebanon Civil War• Iran – Iraq War• Persian Gulf War• Iraq War

• Israel – Lebanon 2006• Syrian Civil War• ISIS

ISRAELI – PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

This is the BIG one!

• The roots go back centuries• Land has been ruled

by:

• Jews• Egyptians• Assyrians• Babylonians• Persians• Romans• Crusaders• Turks (Ottoman

Empire)

ISRAEL – PALESTINE: BRIEF HISTORY

1920 – Palestine was under British rule- Jewish settlers began moving to region from Europe- land is considered the Jewish Homeland

1930 – Rise of Nazi Germany, more Jews move to Palestine

1940 – 400 000 Jews in Palestine- After the Holocaust came to light, Zionism grew and more Jews Migrated- British couldn’t keep the peace and looked to UN for help

1947 – UN voted to partition the land was Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state - State of Israel was created in 1948- ~700 000 Palestinians forced to leave homes and

land- Arab leaders rejected to the plan and war started

(Egypt, Jordan, Labanon, Syria and Iraq invovled)- Israel won

1967 – The Six Day War• Israel captured the

“Occupied Territories”• The West Bank, East

Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and Golan Heights from Syria

1973 – Another War

The UN passed a resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from all land gained in the war

They have not withdrawn from much of the land, including the West Bank

• Israel - Palestine: the crash course

THE MAIN ISSUES

• Borders of the proposed Palestinian State which claim the West Bank and Gaza Strip• Under UN law, Israelis and living and building

illegally in Palestinian Territory• Both side claim Jerusalem (sacred religious site

for Jews, Muslims and Christians• Palestinians movement restricted in Gaza and

West Bank• Hamas attacks Israel, Israel attacks Hamas

• The West Bank