Conflicts in the Middle East

Chapter 17Section 3

Middle East

Middle East—Land of Conflict

For decades, the Middle East has been the location of conflict

Modern Israel was created in 1948 on land that had belonged to Palestinian Arabs following the UN Partition vote in 1947

As a result, there has been repeated war and violence between Israel and the Arab countries

In several wars against Egypt and other Arab states, Israel gained more territory after defeating the Arab countries

This is called the occupied territories – land that Arab states believes belongs to them

Israel’s War of Independence (1948)

Arab countries invaded Israel from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt with the mutual goal of destroying Israel. Israel defeated these Arab armies in 1948.

Israel in 1947 and 1949

Palestinians The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO),

led by Yasir Arafat, fought against the Israelis

In the occupied territories, Palestinians launched uprisings called intifadas

In addition, suicide bombers spread terror inside Israel by blowing themselves up to kill innocent civilians

The Israelis have responded with armed force to protect their citizens, and Palestinian bitterness increased

Leaders such as Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, pushed for peace with the Palestinians over many years

Suicide Bomber

Suicide Bomber Training for an Attack

Yasir Arafat – leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

The PLO has been branded a terrorist organization by many countries.

Palestinian Intifada

Obstacles to Peace There were many stumbling blocks, however,

such as disagreements over Jerusalem, a city sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims

During the early 2000s, new steps toward peace offered some hope, but serious obstacles remained

Jerusalem

Lebanon Lebanon is home to diverse ethnic and religious

groups The government depended on a delicate balance

among Arab Christians, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and Druze

In 1975, Christian and Muslim militias battled each other, and both Israel and Syria invaded

Lebanon’s civil war lasted for 15 years, until 1990, when peace was finally restored

Thousands of Lebanese died during the civil war

Lebanon

Lebanon’s Civil War

Iraq Conflicts also plagued Iraq Iraq’s Sunni Muslim minority dominated the

country for centuries and oppressed other Iraqi ethnic and religious groups

The Kurdish minority and Shiite majority were excluded from power

In 1979, Saddam Hussein seized power as dictator

He fought a prolonged war against neighboring enemy Iran in the 1980s (Sept. 22,1980-August 20, 1988)

Saddam Hussein

Iraq

Distribution of Sunni and Shiite Muslims Worldwide

Iran-Iraq War

Iraq (continued) In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait to seize Kuwaiti

oil fields In response, the USA led a coalition against

that invasion In the Gulf War that followed, Kuwait was

liberated and Iraqi forces were crushed Saddam Hussein remained in power and used

terror to impose his will The USA, France, and Britain set up no-fly

zones to protect the Kurds and Shiites from Hussein’s persecution and extermination

First Gulf War

First Gulf War

Oil Fields Set Ablaze During the First Gulf War

No Fly Zones in Iraq

Iraq (continued) The United Nations worked to keep Saddam

Hussein from building biological, nuclear, or chemical weapons, called weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

In 2003, the United States led a coalition that invaded Iraq and overthrew Saddam Hussein

Iraqi insurgents fought against the occupation that followed

In 2005, national elections were held in Iraq for the first time

Saddam Hussein was executed December 30, 2006

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapon of Mass Deception

Powerpoint Questions

1. What is the name of the land given to the territory Israel acquired over successive wars?2. Who was the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)? 3. Rebellious uprisings are called ??4. What Israeli leader pushed for peace despite these uprisings?5. What city is claimed by Jews, Christians, and Muslims?

Powerpoint Questions

6. What event happened in Lebanon beginning in 1975? Explain.7. Who seized power in Iraq in 1979?8. What country did Iraq fight for 8 years?9. What country did Iraq invade in 1990?10. Why did Iraq invade this country?11. Why did the United States led coalition establish a no-fly zone over Iraq? Explain.

Powerpoint Questions

12. What were the two no-fly zones called? (2 points)13. Define weapons of mass destruction.14. How did the USA address the Iraq problem in 2003?15. What happened on December 30, 2006?16. Critical thinking: What does the cartoon with George W. Bush suggest?

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