Middle East-Geography -crossroads for the people of Africa, Asia, and Europe -an enormous diversity of people, belief systems, and cultures -oil (brought power-important to global economy) -oil is why countries around the world take an active interest in middle eastern affairs -limited water supply (conflicts over water rights)

Geography Persian Gulf Strait of Hormuz Suez Canal (important link between Europe and Asia) *****Are all trade routes for petroleum exports to nations around the world

Muslims Sunni (conservative) Shiites (progressive) Kurds (non-arab muslims:Syria, Turkey) Jews Christians religious, racial, and cultural prejudices

Israeli/Palestinian conflict People of Arab and Jewish decent fight over homeland. (Jewish Zionist) 1947 United Nations divide land half and half (Israel/Palestine) Arabs did not accept this agreement Wanted to restore Palestine

1948 Israel invaded by 6 Arab States Arabs were defeated 700, 000 Arabs become refugees (refused entry by neighboring Arab countries) Refugee camps Growing ethnic tension

PLO-Palestine Liberation Organization (1964) Led by Yasir Arafat Designed to destroy Israel Terrorist attacks on Israel Intifada-violent demonstrations by young Palestinians

SIX DAY WAR 1973-Egypt and Syria launch a war against Israel Israelites: acquisition of Golan Heights, West Bank and the Gaza strip as a result of the war oil prices sky rocket OPEC:Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (refused to sell oil to countries friendly with Israel)

Peace Attempt Camp David Accords (1978) Jimmy Carter(USA), Anwar Sadat (Egypt), Prime Minister Menachim (Israel) Israel would return lands taken from Egypt in exchange for peace between the two countries

Peace Attempt Middle East Peace Conference (1991) Oslo Accords (1993)- Itzhak Rabin (Israel) and Yasir Arafat (PLO) gave Palestinians self-gov. over Gaza strip PLO ended opposition to Israel's existence Conflicts remain because of terrorist groups

Iranian Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni Restoring conservative Islamic fundamental beliefs Extremely hostile to the West No separation of church and gov. Rights taken away from women Encourage Muslims in other countries to overthrow secular governments

Iran-Iraq war (1980) Persian Gulf War (1990) Sadaam Hussein- dictator in Iraq (Sunni) Border dispute Lasted 8 years Persian Gulf War (1990) 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and seized its oil fields United States orders a trade embargo on Iraq Iraq refused to withdraw and Kuwait was liberated Hoped this would get rid of Sadaam Hussein as a dictator, but did not

The Iraq War 2001 Prove they did not have WMD’s according to United Nations requirements Invasion of Iraq and taking down Sadaam Hussein Troops start to leave in 2011 (December)

The Talliban in Afghanistan Imposed strict religious beliefs al Queda-Islamic terrorist group Osama Bin Laden-al Queda terrorist leader War on Terrorism (2001)-goal to stabilize religion and establish democratic government

Continued importance of the Middle East to the global economy is based on its quantity of oil reserves Economic development is limited because of political instability

Israel includes women in all facets of society (democratic) Iran and Afghanistan more traditional women do not have many rights Saudi Arabia women have the right to vote Do not have the right to drive