Challenges in the Middle East  Since the beginning of civilizations Palestine had been home to Jews and Palestinians

The Arab-Israeli Conflict  The Arab-Israeli conflict began when the United Nations created Israel as a Jewish homeland in Palestine in 1948

Israel Struggles to Survive  Neighboring Arab countries rejected this and attacked Israel  Thousands of Palestinians fled their homes to neighboring Arab states  Arabs and Israelis fought wars in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973

Israel and the Palestinians  After 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israel occupies the West Bank and Gaza Strip  Terrorists use violence against innocent civilians to make demands on governments

Progress in Arab-Israeli Relations  Camp David Accords (1978)-Egypt’s Anwar Al-Sadat signs peace treaty with Israel, Sinai given back to Egypt  Since the Oslo Accords (1993), A Palestinian Authority has been established in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which may lead to future statehood

Radical Islamic Fundamentalism  Radical Islamic Fundamentalists oppose Western values and wish to apply Islamic laws to all aspects of society

The Iranian Revolution (1979)  In 1979, Islamic Fundamentalists overthrew the shah (leader) and established an Islamic state

Al-Qaeda and the 9/11 Attacks  Al-Qaeda terrorist group who resents western culture  Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 killing over 3,000 Americans

The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq  The U.S. & Coalition forces invaded Afghanistan when the Taliban would not hand over Osama Bin Laden.  The U.S. invaded Iraq because it feared the Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction  Both countries are now fragile democracies

Challenges to Human Rights  Governments attempted genocide against ethnic minorities in Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Darfur

Genocide in the Balkans  Fighting between Orthodox Christian Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Bosnian Muslims breaks out after the fall of the Soviet Union  Bosnian Serbs begin to exterminate or “ethnic cleanse” large amounts of Muslim civilians  US and NATO intervene to stop the fighting

Genocide in Africa  Rwanda & Burundi—Govt Hutu troops exterminate 850,000 Tutsi’s during civil war  Darfur—Janjaweed militia kill over 200, 000 and displaced 2 million in Sudan

Human Rights Violations  Governments in Latin America have often violated the rights of their political opponents and other citizens  Las Padres de la Plaza Mayo—the disappearances of people in Argentina

Women’s Rights  Women have gained new rights but still do not enjoy full equality in many regions of the world.  Influential women such as Mother Teresa, Golda Meir (Israel), and Margaret Thatcher (Britain) have left their mark on the world

Challenge of Globalization  Recent changes in transportation, communications (internet), and manufacturing have led to globalization (greater contact between various parts of the world)  People are in closer contact with distant places than ever before  Globalization is helping to create a global economy and culture