Conflicts in the Middle East

H-SS Students analyze instances of nation-building in the contemporary world in at least two of the following regions or countries: the Middle East, Africa, Mexico and other parts of Latin America, and China.

1.Since Israel was established in 1948, the country has fought Arab forces and gained and given back lands belonging to neighboring countries. 1 of 7 A. Arabs and Israelis Fight Over Land

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2. The PLO has led a struggle to gain homelands for Palestinians, often using suicide bombers. a. Yasir Arafat=longtime PLO leader b. intifada- “uprising”

3. Yitzhak Rabin: Israeli leader who agreed to Palestinian state.

4. In 1993, Rabin and Arafat signed the Oslo Accord, granting Palestinians limited self-rule

5. Progress toward peace a. plan to withdraw Israeli settlements from Gaza b. Jerusalem remains a major “stumbling block”

Jerusalem

1. When Muslim Palestinians migrated to Lebanon, the balance of people of different religions was tipped. 2 of 7 B. Civil War Ravages Lebanon

2. Religious tensions erupted into civil war in Christian and Muslim militias battled each other.

4. Although the war ended in 1990, the country’s fate seems tied to peace among its neighbors.

1. For centuries, Sunni Arabs held power in Iraq. They repressed the Kurdish minority and the Shiite Arab majority. 3 of 7 C. Iraq’s Long History of Conflict

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2. Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein had U.S. support in a long and deadly war with Iran over territory.

Hussein invaded Kuwait, a. U.S.-led coalition drove Iraq out. b. No-fly zones in Iraq to protect Kurds and Shiites. c. Iraq was forbidden weapons of mass destruction.

4. In 2003, U.S.-led coalition forces occupied Iraq and then imprisoned Hussein. 5. Insurgents, or rebels, have targeted foreigners and Iraqi citizens.

D. The “Surge” 1.Reduces power of Al Qaeda in Iraq 2.U.S. forces slated for withdrawal by end of 2010