The Modern Middle East

1. The Modern Middle East Ch. 31 Sec. 4

3. Diversity Brings Challenges • Kurds divided when Europeans drew borders • Lived Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey today • 1991 Kurds set up their own government in northern Iraq with military support from Britain and US

5. Israel is Founded • Britain supported a Jewish national homeland • Holocaust gave Jews worldwide support • 1947 UN drew up a plan to divide Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state • Jews agreed/Arabs rejected it • 1948 Britain withdrew from Palestine- Jews proclaimed the land Independent state of Israel • Arabs started the first of several wars • Israel attracted Jews from all over the world

7. Conflicts Over Resources and Religion • Supplying the World with Oil • Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and UAE= Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) • 1973: OPEC’s Arab members blocked oil shipments to the US to protect US support of Israel • Led to worldwide recession • Since 1970 OPEC focuses on regulating price of oil

9. Islam Confronts Modernization • Some Middle Eastern countries adopted Western forms of secular government and law • Middle Eastern leaders also adopted Western economic models • 1970s Muslim leaders called for a return to Sharia • Became known as Islamists- blamed social and economic ills on Western models • Some have used violence to pursue their goals

10. Women’s options Vary • Conditions for women vary from country to country • In most countries have won equality • In some countries women have given up the tradition of hejab • Religiously conservative countries still require hejab and other limitations on women • Education is still limited- not needed to wife/mother

11. Dispute of Hijab in schools

12. Egypt, a leader in the Arab World • Strategic location- borders Israel & controls Suez Canal • 1956 Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez ending British and French control • US and Soviets forced British and French to fully withdraw • Since US supported Israel, Egypt took support from Soviet Union (Cold War) • 1979 Anwar Sadat made peace with Israel and sought aid from US- Frustrated Islamists • Muslim fundamentalists assassinated Sadat • Hosni Mubarak- sought Islamists support with harsh gov.

13. Gamal Abdel Nassar Anwar Sadat

14. Iran’s Islamic Revolution • Due to oil fields Iran attracted attention from British, Soviets, and Americans • Backed by Western powers Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi faced nationalist opponent Mohammad Mosaddeq (1951 elected Prime Minister) • 1953 US helped Shah Pahlavi oust Mosaddeq- Outraged many Iranians • With American support, shah held power for the next 25 years

15. Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

16. Islam Confronts Modernization • To strengthen Iran and quiet unrest- shah used oil wealth to build industries • Redistributed land to peasants, extended rights to women • Shah’s secret police terrorized critics and sent many into exile • 1970s shah’s foes rallied behind Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini • He condemned Western influence & accused shah of breaking Islamic law • Drove the shah into exile • Proclaimed Iran an Islamic republic- Theocracy

17. VS Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

18. Oil, Religion, and Threats to Stability • Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest oil reserve • Also included Islam’s Holy Land • Joined OPEC oil embargo in 1973, then returned to relations with the West • To build support, Royal family backed fundamentalist religious leaders • Protested relations with the Western world • Opponents of the kingdom adopted violent (terrorist) tactics • Kuwait, Qatar, & UAE face similar threats

19. Conflicts in the Middle East Chapter 32 Section 3

20. Arabs and Israelis Fight Over Land • United Nations Partition Plan formed Israel 1948 • As Arab nations fought against Israel- new nation expanded • Took territories- West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights • 1960s- Formation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) headed by Yasir Arafat • PLO called for destruction of Israel • Palestinians opposed Israel through intifadas • Very harsh fighting back and forth

22. Seeking Peace • US, UN, and others pushed for peace • Golda Meir- Israel’s first female Prime Minister tried to make negotiated peace when Palestine attacked • 1979- Israel and Egypt signed a Peace agreement • Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt • Talks between Israel and Syria failed over the issues of: • Security • Recognition of Israel • Control of Golan Heights

24. Seeking Peace Continued • 1993 Yasir Arafat and Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed Oslo Accord • Planned to give Palestinians in Gaza Strip and West Bank limited self rule under Palestinian Authority • PLO recognized Israel and agreed to stop terrorism • Yasir Arafat assumed responsibility of Palestinian Authority • 2000- radical Palestinian groups stepped up terrorist attacks • Palestinian suicide bombers and Israeli reprisals brought fear and bitterness

26. Overcoming Obstacles to Peace • Despite distrust and fear, other obstacles remained: • Land claims- many Palestinians want right to settle anywhere in Israel “Right of Return” • Future of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories • Jerusalem- home of religious sites to different religions • Many Arabs were unwilling to recognize Israel’s right to exist • 2000s- US devised a new plan “Road Map” to peace- called for two states of Israel and democratic Palestine to exist side by side

27. Overcoming Obstacles to Peace • 2004 Israel planned to withdraw settlements from Gaza • Plan angered some Israelis and did not satisfy Palestinians • 2004-Yasir Arafat died- democratically elected successor pledged to stop Palestinian terrorist attacks • 2005 Israel released hundred of Palestinian prisoners

28. Civil War Ravages Lebanon • The government depended on a delicate balance among Arab Christians, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and Druze (Related to Islam) • Christians held most power because they had the largest group at independence, but Palestinian Muslims fled to Lebanon when Israel formed and outnumbered the Christians • 1975 religious tension plunged Lebanon into civil war • Israel invaded southern Lebanon to stop cross-border attacks • Syria occupied eastern Lebanon to secure its borders • 1990- civil war ended

30. Iraq’s Long History of Conflict • Conflict in Iraq partly due to oil wealth and ethnic diversity- during Cold War Iraq’s oil was fought over by SU and US • Began to develop close ties with SU • 1979- Saddam Hussein seized power in Iraq and ruled as a dictator • 1980- Hussein tried to take advantage of Islamic revolution in Iran • Triggered a prolonged war • Hussein used chemical weapons on Kurdish civilians

32. The Gulf War Brings Defeat • 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait to control its vast oil field and gain greater access to the Persian Gulf • US said Hussein’s move was illegal but also a threat to oil resources of the Persian Gulf region • President George H.W. Bush formed a coalition of Western and Middle Eastern nations- launched a counterattack against Iraqi forces 1991 • 1991 Gulf War led by US operated under the UN banner- quickly liberated Kuwait and crushed Iraqis • Despite defeat- Hussein remain in power

34. Defeat of Saddam Hussein • US, Britain, and France had to set up no-fly zones to protect Kurds and Shiites • UN tried to keep Hussein from using oil wealth to build Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) • Hussein disregarded no-fly zones and did not work with the UN inspectors • 2002- US and Britain charged Hussein had WMD • US President George W. Bush accused Iraqi government of supporting terrorists • 2003- Iraq War- coalition forces toppled Saddam Hussein and occupied the country

35. Iraq Tries to Rebuild • Efforts to rebuild were limited by guerilla attacks and suicide bombings • Insurgents targeted foreigners and Iraqi citizens- especially those cooperating with foreign troops • 2005 National elections held for first time in history • Shiite majority won control of government- faced attacks by different insurgent groups • Ethnic and religious divisions remained obstacles