Essential Idea
Conflicts in the Middle East
are ongoing and a product of
multiple factors.
Israel
Claims on the Holy Lands:
 Jews- 3,000 years Jewish kings ruled from
Jerusalem
 Zionists- people who favor a Jewish homeland in
Palestine
 Palestinians- Land belonged to them since AD 135
when Jews were driven out
 Formerly part of Ottoman Empire, after WWI
becomes mandate of Britain after WWI
 Arabs- Conquest of the area in 7th century
Creation of Israel
1947 Partition: Creation of
independent Arab and
Jewish states with
Jerusalem to be an
international city
Who voted against
partition: ALL Islamic
countries and Palestinians
1948: Creation of Israel
Events: Arab-Israeli Wars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973)
Result #1: Several hundred thousand Jews living in Arab lands
move to Israel
Result #2: Israel sized ½ the land the UN set aside for Palestine in
1948/49 fight
Result #3: 600,000 Palestinians flee fighting, settling in refugee
camps (some would be permanent)
Result #4: Egypt seizes the Gaza Strip and Jordan annexes the
West Bank- both Palestinian lands
Palestine loses more territory
The event: 6 Day War
(1967)
Who’s fighting: Israel
attacks Egypt, Jordan, Iraq,
and Syria
The Consequences: Israel
gains control of Jerusalem,
the Sinai Peninsula, Golan
Heights, and the West
bank
PLO
The Organization:
Palestine Liberation
Organization
Led by: Yasir Arafat
Path to success: armed
fighting
Efforts at peace
The Agreement: Camp David
Accords (1979)
Outcome: Egypt recognizes
Israel as a state, Israel will give
Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt
Significance: Ends 30 years of
hostility
Efforts at peace
The Agreement: Oslo Peace
Accords (1993)
Outcome: Israel agrees to grant
Palestinians self rule in Gaza
Strip and West Bank
Conflict in Israel and Palestine Crash
Course
Afghanistan
Background:
 1919- established
independence (from
Russia and Britain)
 Neutral at the start of the
Cold War
 1973- military leaders
overthrow the
government
A Rebellion
What happened:
1978, a rival group
with strong ties to
the Soviet Union take
control
The problem: Many
Afghans felt
communism conflicts
with Islam
The opposition:
Mujahedeen
Soviet War in Afghanistan
Soviets: Step in to secure
government
U.S.: Provides support to
Mujahedeen
Result: Soviets stuck in a
decade-long war (much like
U.S./Vietnam)
Soviet Withdrawal: War is
unwinnable and problems
at home are increasing
Battle for Control of
Afghanistan
Post war situation:
various groups compete
for power
Outcome:
Taliban controls 90% of
the country by 1998
Northern Alliance
controls the northwest
corner
The Taliban
The good:
 Brings order to the wartorn nation
 Rooted out corruption
 Promoted growth of
business
The bad:
 Followed extreme
interpretation of Islam
 Restrictive society
 Had a role in growing
problem of terrorism
U.S. Invasion
When: 2011
Why: Taliban refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden
Results:
 U.S. drives Taliban from power by the end of the
year
 Country is still working towards stability