1. Conflicts in the Middle East
Main Idea
Regional issues in the Middle East have led to conflicts between Israel and its neighbors and to conflicts in and between Iran and Iraq.
Reading Focus
How have regional issues contributed to conflicts in the Middle East?
What were some key events in the Arab-Israeli conflict?
What caused a revolution in Iran?
How have conflicts in Iraq affected that country?

2. However, oil has also been a source of conflict.
Regional Issues
Over the last few decades, major conflicts have erupted in the Middle East. Issues that have contributed to the conflicts include the presence of huge oil reserves, the growth of Islamism, and the conflict between Israel and its neighbors.
About two-thirds of world’s known oil reserved located in Middle East
Reserves have been great source of wealth for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, other countries
Most members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Oil in the Middle East
OPEC attempts to regulate production of oil exports to maximize revenues
Oil revenues allowed Middle East governments to modernize countries, promote industrialization, economic, social development
Oil Revenues
However, oil has also been a source of conflict.

3. Oil as source of conflict in Middle East
Importance of Oil
Oil as source of conflict in Middle East
Some governments have used oil revenues to build up military, maintain power, threaten neighbors
Oil wealth has caused internal clashes within countries, societies
Region’s strategic importance as source of oil has led outside nations to become involved in Middle Eastern affairs, politics

4. Growth of Islamism Islamists Conflicts, Violence
Movement to reorder government, society according to Islamic laws
Islamists believe Muslim countries have strayed from true Islam, followed Western models of political, economic development
Islamists
Egypt, Iran, Iraq have seen growth of Islamism; has led to conflicts within society, government
Some extremists have used violence to bring about changes, have attacked regional governments, their allies, innocent civilians
Conflicts, Violence

5. Conflicts with Israel Expansion of Israel
1948, Israel established; since then most Middle Eastern countries have refused to recognize its right to exist
Some countries have repeatedly attacked Israel, funded militant groups that conduct raids, terrorist attacks against Israelis
Expansion of Israel
Series of wars between Israel, neighbors has led to expansion of Israel
Israel controls more land now than in 1948 when created
Result: many Palestinian Arabs live under Israeli control; another source of tension, conflict in region

6. The Arab-Israeli Conflict
The Arab-Israeli conflict that began in 1948 has continued through the years. In 1967 and again in 1973, war erupted. Six years after the 1973 war, Egypt and Israel singed a peace agreement, but unrest among Palestinian Arabs in Israel remained a major problem.
1967, Egypt demanded UN remove troops from Gaza, Sinai Peninsula
Egyptian troops moved into Sinai to close off Gulf of Aqaba, Israel’s route to Red Sea
War in 1967, 1973
Israel expected large-scale Arab attack, decided to strike first
Launched air strikes against Egypt, Syria, Jordan; destroyed most of airplanes on ground
Ground troops moved in, defeated Arabs
Israeli Attacks
In Six-Day War Israel took control of Golan Heights, Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem
Took control of land in West Bank, Gaza with large Palestinian population
Six-Day War

7. Egypt Strikes Back Yom Kippur War U.S. Support Oil Embargo
Egypt, Syria determined to win territory back, launched Yom Kippur War, surprise attack against Israel in 1973
Took name from Jewish holy day when attack began
U.S. Support
At first Arab troops made gains in war; Israeli’s government, led by Golda Meir, not fully prepared for attack; needed military support from U.S.
With support, Israeli forces regrouped, pushed back Egyptian, Syrian armies
Oil Embargo
Both sides agreed to cease-fire after weeks of fighting
During war, Arab members of OPEC declared oil embargo against countries supporting Israel
Price of oil around world rose dramatically as result of refusal to sell oil

8. A Peace Agreement Camp David Peace Treaty
Until the late 1970s, no Arab nation had recognized Israel’s right to exist.
1977, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat made momentous declaration: Egypt wanted peace with Israel
U.S. president Jimmy Carter invited Sadat, Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin to Camp David, presidential retreat in Maryland
Camp David
1978, Sadat, Begin reached agreement known as Camp David Accords
Egypt recognized Israel; Israel returned Sinai Peninsula to Egypt
Treaty ended 30 years hostility between Egypt, Israel
Peace Treaty

9. Palestinian Nationalism Palestinian Resentment
Palestinian Unrest
Egypt, Israel made peace; Palestinian Arabs continued struggle for nationhood
1947 UN partition plan had called for two states in Palestine—a Jewish state, an Arab state
After 1948 Arab-Israeli war, land set aside for Arab state occupied by Israel, Egypt, Jordan
1964, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formed
Pledged to destroy Israel, replace with Palestinian state
1969, Yasser Arafat became leader, PLO launched guerilla attacks against Israel
Palestinian Nationalism
In effort to stop attacks, Israel invaded Lebanon, 1978 and 1982
Tensions building also in West Bank, Gaza where Israel had begun building settlements
1987, Palestinian resentment began rebellion called intifada
Palestinian Resentment

10. Tenuous Peace Intifada Oslo Accords Undermining Peace
Palestinian youths battled Israeli troops in widespread street violence
Israel responded with military, police resistance; fighting continued to 1990s
1993, Arafat, Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin negotiated Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords called for Palestinians to gradually gain control over governing West Bank, Gaza
Israel, PLO supposed to sign permanent peace agreement by 1998
Undermining Peace
Extremists on both sides worked to undermine peace process
Militant group Hamas launched suicide bombings in Israel
1995, Rabin assassinated; relations between Israeli, Palestinian leadership soured

11. Continuing the Conflict
2000—second intifada began
Palestinian youths joined by Palestinian security forces with guns
Hamas sent suicide bombers into Israel to attack civilians
Israelis countered by sending troops backed by tanks, fighter jets, helicopter gunships into cities in West Bank, Gaza
2004, Arafat died, succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas
More Fighting
2004, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon withdrew Israel from Gaza, parts of West Bank
2005, Gaza turned over to Palestinians
2006, militant Hamas won control of Palestinian parliament
Hamas in Control
Armed conflict also erupted when Israeli soldiers were kidnapped along borders with Gaza and Lebanon. Israel launched air strikes to secure its borders.

12. Revolution in Iran Different Kind of Conflict Westernization of Iran
Different kind of conflict erupted in Iran
Revolution ousted shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Westernization of Iran
Shah had close ties with Western governments, oil companies
Iran westernized, foreign influence grew
Society Changed
By 1970s, Iran had changed from traditional rural society
Had become more industrialized, urban society
Islamists Opposed Shah
Many Iranians felt threatened by rapid change, others felt betrayed by corrupt government
Islamists opposed shah because of ties to West

13. 1978, Iranians began to protest against shah’s rule
Rise of Khomeini
1978, Iranians began to protest against shah’s rule
Protests inspired by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Shia religious leader
1979, unable to calm unrest, shah fled Iran
Iran became Islamic republic with Khomeini as leader, during Iranian Revolution

14. Khomeini’s Reign Khomeini’s Reign American Hostages
Under Khomeini, government suppressed political opposition, enforced strict social religious values
Foreign policy strongly anti-Western, especially after shah went to U.S. for medical treatment
Khomeini’s Reign
1979, Iranian revolutionaries seized U.S. embassy in Tehran, took 66 Americans hostage
Iranians demanded shah be returned to Iran, stand trial
Shah left U.S., but Iranians held hostages until January, 1981
American Hostages

15. Conflict in Iraq Iran-Iraq War Persian Gulf War
As Iran’s new government was dealing with the hostage crisis, it found itself at war with its neighbor, Iraq.
1980, Iraq attacked Iran because of border disputes
Also Iran called for revolution among Iraq’s Shiite population
War long, costly; as many as 500,000 dead on both sides
Iraq used chemical weapons
1988, both sides agreed to cease-fire
Iran-Iraq War
After cease-fire, Saddam Hussein continued to build up Iraq’s military; already had largest army in Arab world
1990, Iraq accused neighboring Kuwait of drilling into Iraqi oil field, stealing oil
Hussein used this as excuse to invade Kuwait
Persian Gulf War

16. Sanctions
In effort to end Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, UN passed economic sanctions against Iraq; sanctions failed
Result: U.S.-led coalition launched Persian Gulf War
Attacked Iraqi forces in Kuwait; Kuwait freed within weeks
Weapons
After war, UN continued economic sanctions, insisted Iraq destroy chemical, biological weapons, agree not to develop nuclear weapons
Inspectors had been sent to verify Iraq’s weapons had been destroyed
Iraq failed to fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors

17. The Iraq War
After attacks of September 11, 2001, some U.S. leaders believed Saddam Hussein posed a greater threat to America than before
Hussein might have deadly weapons he could give to terrorists
UN weapons inspections did not find stockpiles of chemical, biological, nuclear weapons
Iraq again did not fully cooperate
Some U.S. officials convinced Hussein hiding weapons
Weapons Inspections
2003, another U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq, forcing Hussein out
Efforts to restore peace thwarted
Growing insurgency targeted coalition forces, Iraqi allies, innocent civilians
Growing Insurgency
Insurgent attacks by different groups from both inside and outside Iraq caused a greater number of casualties.

18. Coalition Government
Meanwhile, coalition worked to create new, democratic government in Iraq
2004, power transferred to Iraqis
2005, Iraqis voted in country’s first multiparty election in fifty years
Later approved new constitution to make Iraq Islamic federal democracy
Continued violence, potential for civil war made country’s future highly uncertain