Todays Issues

Why do you think people from one country would go work in another country?

Population relocation Change fueled by oil wealth Religious Conflict over land

 In the 20 th century geologist discovered large deposits of petroleum and natural gas in the Middle East. Countries grow wealthy Rapid urbanization Thousands migrate to the cities for jobs

To fill the many job opening that became available companies recruited immigrants to work for them. Why do you think so many “guest workers” come to the Middle East? What jobs do “guess workers” fill?

Problem with guest workers 3 major concerns have been raised about foreign workers in the region 1.Dependence on foreign workers 2.Fears about intolerance and violence 3.Weakened national identity Foreign Workers in the Middle East

Another cause for population shifts in the Middle East is political conflicts. Kurds  What land was promised to the Kurds? Palestinians  Claim land in Israel-West Bank and the Gaza Strip Why are these two considered stateless nations?

 Challenges in Defining an Israeli- Palestinian Border Challenges in Defining an Israeli- Palestinian Border

 What is a Strategic Commodity?  The Middle East holds about 64% of the worlds oil  A disadvantage of oil reserves-no steady economic growth

3 ways Middle Eastern nations can use oil revenues to promote economic growth:  Modernize infrastructures Roads, irrigation networks, airports  Develop other resources Water for agriculture production, and wheat  Improve educational systems- Women in the workforceWomen in the workforce Human Resources Education and technology training

What do you know about Jerusalem? Two nations want control of the city Israel (Jews) Palestine (Muslims) After WW II the UN proposed that Jerusalem should become an international city under the control of an international body. At the end of the Arab-Israeli war in 1948 Jerusalem was divided between Arabs and Israelis. Control of the holy sites within the city have also become an issue. Muslims retain control of their holy site even though Israelis captured the city.