Southwest Asia aka the Middle East

Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asiaaka the Middle Eastaka the Middle East

Main FactsMain Facts

► Vast reserves of oil exist here but many Vast reserves of oil exist here but many of the 16 countries are poor. The oil-of the 16 countries are poor. The oil-rich countries have used their oil wealth rich countries have used their oil wealth to pay for modernization. Oil rich – to pay for modernization. Oil rich – Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Bahrain, Oman.Bahrain, Oman.

► Political conflict in this area is of vital Political conflict in this area is of vital concern to the rest of the world. There concern to the rest of the world. There are issues in Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Syria.are issues in Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Syria.

Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Straits of Hormuz in the Persian GulfGulf


► Deserts and mountains and plateaus cover Deserts and mountains and plateaus cover much of SWA. Most of this region has an much of SWA. Most of this region has an arid climate. arid climate.

► Rivers in this region provide a vital but Rivers in this region provide a vital but limited source of water. There are very few limited source of water. There are very few rivers: Euphrates, Tigris, Jordan.rivers: Euphrates, Tigris, Jordan.

► The population is not evenly distributed. The population is not evenly distributed. People live in places where water is People live in places where water is available, along the coasts or at higher available, along the coasts or at higher plateaus where it is cooler.plateaus where it is cooler.


► SWA is a crossroad of cultures where 3 SWA is a crossroad of cultures where 3 continents meet – Europe, Asia, and Africa.continents meet – Europe, Asia, and Africa.

► Christianity, Judaism, and Islam originated Christianity, Judaism, and Islam originated in this region. All 3 religions share similar in this region. All 3 religions share similar beliefs and the same God. 3 holy cities are beliefs and the same God. 3 holy cities are Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina.Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina.

► Many people here are Muslims, believers in Many people here are Muslims, believers in the Islamic religion. Two of every three the Islamic religion. Two of every three speak Arabic as their native language.speak Arabic as their native language.

The History of SWA since The History of SWA since WWIWWI

► Ottoman Empire in Ottoman Empire in 1914 before the war1914 before the war

The history of SWA since WW The history of SWA since WW II

► Sykes-Picot Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 Agreement of 1916 broke the promise broke the promise made in 1915 to the made in 1915 to the ArabsArabs

► SWA today. Jordan SWA today. Jordan and Israel are and Israel are created as are Syria created as are Syria and Iraq in the late and Iraq in the late 1940s.1940s.

The Israeli-Palestinian The Israeli-Palestinian ConflictConflict

►Palestinian loss of land to Israel 1948-Palestinian loss of land to Israel 1948-20002000


► This conflict is mainly about religion and This conflict is mainly about religion and land. Both Jews and Palestinians believe land. Both Jews and Palestinians believe they have claims to the land. The Jews they have claims to the land. The Jews believe that God said, “you are my believe that God said, “you are my chosen people and I am your God and chosen people and I am your God and this is your promised land.” The this is your promised land.” The Palestinian Muslims believe the land is Palestinian Muslims believe the land is rightfully theirs because people living rightfully theirs because people living here were converted to Islam almost here were converted to Islam almost 1400 years ago and Palestinian Muslims 1400 years ago and Palestinian Muslims have been living there ever since.have been living there ever since.


► The land known as The land known as Israel today was Israel today was called Palestine for called Palestine for almost 2,000 years. almost 2,000 years. In 1947, the United In 1947, the United Nations partitioned Nations partitioned Palestine to give a Palestine to give a homeland to the Jews. homeland to the Jews. Countries in the UN Countries in the UN voted for this partly voted for this partly because of the because of the Holocaust.Holocaust.


► Israel became a Israel became a country in 1948. country in 1948. Immediately her Arab Immediately her Arab neighbors attacked. neighbors attacked. Israel won the war. Israel won the war. Many Palestinians fled Many Palestinians fled to Jordan. This was to Jordan. This was the beginning of the the beginning of the PLO – Palestine PLO – Palestine Liberation Liberation Organization.Organization.


► Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat became the became the spokesman for the spokesman for the PLO. There were PLO. There were more wars fought more wars fought between Israel and between Israel and her Arab neighbors. her Arab neighbors. In 1967, the 6- Day In 1967, the 6- Day war, Israel won all war, Israel won all the land known as the land known as Palestine.Palestine.

Israel and Palestine since Israel and Palestine since 19671967

► Since 1967, Israel and Since 1967, Israel and Palestinians have tried Palestinians have tried to negotiate a return of to negotiate a return of some land to the some land to the Palestinians. There has Palestinians. There has been much rioting and been much rioting and terrorism. Both sides terrorism. Both sides have contributed to the have contributed to the problem. Israel has problem. Israel has built settlements on built settlements on Palestinian land and Palestinian land and the Palestinians have the Palestinians have used terrorism for their used terrorism for their cause.cause.


►A big problem began in the 1980s A big problem began in the 1980s when Israel began to build settlements when Israel began to build settlements on what everyone knew to be on what everyone knew to be Palestinian land. The UN sanctioned Palestinian land. The UN sanctioned Israel and every country except the US Israel and every country except the US agreed. That is why there is so much agreed. That is why there is so much resentment against Israel and the US.resentment against Israel and the US.


►Since the 1990s, Israel has been Since the 1990s, Israel has been returning land to the Palestinians for returning land to the Palestinians for self rule. They held elections and have self rule. They held elections and have a President. There is a wall between a President. There is a wall between Palestine and Israel to try to keep the Palestine and Israel to try to keep the violence down. The Palestinians are violence down. The Palestinians are much poorer than the Israelis and much poorer than the Israelis and don’t have a good opportunity to make don’t have a good opportunity to make a living.a living.

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Southwest Asia aka the Middle East