Hot Spots 4Southwest Asia

Group 6

Introduction

Major issue Domestic Relations

Minor issues International Relations Violence

Major Issue: Domestic Relations

Palestine Fatah and Hamas deal for unity government – too

good to be true? “Quartet” will not accept proposed

government “What is happening now is a

problem between the Palestiniansthemselves, and it is impossiblefor the Palestinian side to sitwith the Israelis,as they are still not agreeing with each other.” – President Mubarak

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Major Issue:Domestic Relations Iraq

Shiite cult leader plots to kill fellow Shiite clerics Iraq refugee crisis Sunnis vs Shiites

Lebanon Pro-Syrian vs. Anti-Syrian

influence Government supporters vs.

Hezbollah supporters Anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s

assasination – reminder of 15-year civil war? http://www.arikah.net/encyclopedia/

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Minor Issue: International Relations

Iraq and Iran US officials believe that

Iran is providing Iraqis

with weapons and explosives

“We deny such charges. We

ask those who are claiming

such evidence: Show the documents in

public…It is not our policy to be involved in and hostile operations against coalition forces here…”

- Washington Post

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Minor Issue:International Relations

“The increasingly common arrangement for sick or wounded Iraqis to receive treatment in Iran is just one strand in a burgeoning relationship between these two Persian Gulf contries…Iran exports electricity and refined oil products to Iraq, and Iraqi vendors sell Iranian-made cars, air coolers, plastics and black flags, decorated with colorful script…”

- The Washington Post

Minor Issue: Violence Iraq

Bodies of 14 policemen found near Baghdad al-Qaeda-linked group kidnaps 18 interior

ministry employees Continuous EEP bombings US soldiers enter Sadr City for house-to-house searches

Palestine Suicide bomber kills 3 in Israel www.news14charlotte.com

Minor Issue: Violence Hope?

Possibility of factional violence (Hamas vs. Fatah) coming to end

Early February: deal between Fatah/Hamas for unity government

“A Hamas-Fatah government should at least end the plague of factional violence”

Peace Rallies In Lebanon Plan for Arab peace deal with Israel

Minor Issue: Violence

Israel May have violated US rules

for cluster bombs Israel/Iran nuclear tension