Middle East• Key Ideas-

– Three Main Religions• Judaism (oldest)• Christianity• Islam

– Sunni– Shia

• Similarities– Montheistic– Prophets

» Abraham» Jesus – “founder” Christianity» Muhammad – Founder of Islam

– Sacred Texts» Judahism – Torah » Chrsitianity – Bible (Old & New Testemant)» Islam- Quran

– Sacred Cities» Jerusalem – All 3 hold this city sacred» Mecca (Makka) - Islam

Middle East

• Languages– Arabic• Most parts of the Middle East

– Hebrew • Israel

– Persian• Iran

Middle EastIsrael-Arab Conflict

• Creation of Israel (1948)– Sykes-Picot (1917)– Balfour Declaration (1917)– Zionists

• Jewish people who wanted the creation of a Jewish state• Just happens to be in the same place where the Palestinians (who

are Arab) are living (Palestine)

– Israel is established in 1948• Palestinians are forced to move to Refugee Settlements in the

neighboring Arab Nations (Egypt / Jordan / Syria)• Or Refugee Settlements in the Gaza Strip and The West Bank• Leads to an almost immediate war between Israel and these Nations

Middle EastIsrael-Arab Conflict

• Israel and wars with their Neighbors– Egypt / Jordan / Syria

• Impact of the Wars– Israel gains control of

• Gaza Strip (Egypt)• West Bank (Jordan)• Golan Heights (Syria)

• These Areas are still a source for conflict

Middle EastIsrael-Arab Conflict

• Palestinians (who are Arab & Islamic)

Middle EastIsrael-Arab Conflict

• Palestine– Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

• Yasir Arafat – Leader for almost 50 years until he died• Began his leadership calling for the destruction of Israel• As he grew older (& hopefully wiser) soften his position and was

working on ways to co-exist with Israel– Self Government in Gaza and West Bank????

• When he died left no leadership to follow allowing for more extremist groups such as Hamas to take the leading role of Palestinian Liberation – Hamas much more violent throughout Israel

» Terrorist Attacks» Suicide Bombings