Chapter 23, Sections 2 and 3

Environmental Change for Israel  The desert is viewed as one of the main challenges to the existence of Israel.  The Negev Desert has been transformed into a system of pipelines, canals, and tunnels called the National Water Carrier.  Drip irrigation preserves water by only using precise amounts of water for plants.  Israel must deal with limited supplies of water.  Mining the Dead Sea  Potash is mined from the sea, which is used in explosives and fertilizer.

Environmental Change for Israel (Continued)  Economic activities in Israel include chemical and agricultural industries. Though this alone was not enough to sustain Israel  Other industries that Israel has been quick to develop include:  Medical laser technology  Sophisticated Weaponry  Aerospace equipment  Electronics  Service industry supports Israel’s growing population.

Diverse Cultures  80% of Israel’s population is Jewish. Israel encouraged the immigration of Jews to Israel, which has allowed the population to have the diverse backgrounds of many countries.*  The Jewish population is split into two divisions.  Ashkenazi Jews who are mostly from northern and eastern Europe. Gave Israel it’s “Western” character.  Sephardic Jews who come from Southern Europe, Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Asia.  The Sephardic Jews are usually poorer and less educated than the Ashkenazi Jews.  Most of the new immigrants come from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union.  The diverse population means trouble for the Knesset, Israel’s democratically elected parliament.  Ultra Orthodox Jews and the non-religious clash on policies and the division of religion and state.

Cooperation and Conflict  Palestinians who fled Israel during the Arab- Israeli war in 1948 settled in a variety of places.  Egypt, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon.  More than 1 million Palestinians live outside Israel.  Refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan became base camps for the PLO.

The Struggle for a Solution  1993 Peace terms were agreed to in Norway between the PLO and Israel  Israel withdrew from Gaza and the West bank. Palestinians assumed authority for governance in the vacated areas.  Periodic violence after the agreement threatened peace.  Peace talks once again took place in 2000 with Bill Clinton as a mediator.  Terms could not be agreed upon.  2004, Yasir Arafat died, and Mahmoud Abbas became the new leader of the PLO.

Jordan  Jordan annexed the West Bank after the 1948 war with Israel.  It received fertile land to grow crops, while workers were able to build irrigation canals, and farmers learned modern methods for growing crops.  By the mid 1960s, the West Bank accounted for one third of Jordan’s gross national product.  Then in 1967, Jordan went to war with Israel again, and lost the West bank.

Migrations in Jordan  The early wars with Israel caused many Palestinians to flee to Jordan.  Half of Jordan’s population is Palestinian. Jordan encouraged Palestinians to join its society.  They are a strong political force in Jordan, even threatening to overthrow Jordan’s King Hussein if he did not support Palestinians in the struggle for a homeland.  Jordan is considered a modern country today, with an improved economy and political reform, Islamic heritage is united with modern political freedoms.

Lebanon: Civil War and Recovery  Lebanon was considered a very successful country before its civil war.  Often referred to as the “Paris of the Middle East.”  The civil war began due to a breakdown of its political system.  Different political groups governed the country, with the largest being the Maronites.  As the Muslim presence grew, growing economic inequality caused a civil war in Though a compromise was reached, another civil war broke out in 1975.

A Kaleidoscope of Terror  Since many Palestinian refugees had made their home in Lebanon, the PLO had set up bases from which to conduct raids into Israel.  This caused the Israelis to strike back, and the ensuing conflict brought Syria, Iran, and the United States into the situation.  Israel eventually captured Beirut, and a peacekeeping force that included US marines was sent to Beirut.  In 1983 the Shiite group Hezbollah bombed the American embassy and a Marine barracks, killing a total of 60 people in the embassy and 241 Americans in the baracks.  By 1984, all American personnel had been withdrawn from Lebanon, and Muslim and Christian militias began another civil war.  Lebanon had dissolved into anarchy, or lawlessness.  Order was restored in 1991, but Hezbollah and Syrian troops remain in the region and threaten political stability within the region.

Syria: Challenges and Reforms  Syria has seen a big transition as many of their Syrians have moved to the cities, leaving farming methods out of date.  The government has given money to farmers to update methods, and helped them buy modern machinery.  A major event that may change Syria’s future is Turkey’s decision to build dams on the Euphrates river.  1970, General Hafez al-Assad took power in Syria.  He made all the economic decisions and allowed little political freedom. His son has since taken over and is in the process of subduing protests against his rule with brutal force. *

Iraq: A Series of Conflicts  War with Iran  Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in  Chemical weapons were used in the conflict.  Specifically the town of Halabja, which is located in Iraqi Kurdistan. Saddam ordered the attack to deliberately kill the Kurdish people.  The town suffered around 3,200 to 5,000 people dead and an equal number of wounded or sick.  In 1988 after eight years of war, Iran and Iraq accepted a UN ceasefire.  The war left both countries economically damaged.

The First Gulf War  The war with Iran did not deter Saddam. In 1990, he invaded Kuwait and annexed it as an Iraqi province.  A coalition led by the United States liberated Kuwait and defeated the Iraqi army.  Iraq accepted a UN ceasefire, and Saddam resisted calls for more autonomy for the people of Iraq.

The Second Gulf War  After 9/11, Iraq was a focal point as many people suspected that they still pursued WMDs.  In 2003, America and Great Britian invade Iraq and within a month, Saddam was ousted from power.  Saddam was captured at a farm in Tikrit on December 13 th, He was put on trial for crimes against humanity.  The United States is in the process of slowly withdrawing from Iraq.