Historical roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict.; Geographical and national context of the Middle East.; Impact of competing nationalisms and external influences.; Role of land, resources, and ideology in conflicts.; Broader factors contributing to regional instability.

Middle East Conflict: An Overview

Middle East Conflict: An Overview

Explore the historical and contemporary drivers of Middle East conflict.

Agenda

• Historical roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

• Geographical and national context of the Middle East.

• Impact of competing nationalisms and external influences.

• Role of land, resources, and ideology in conflicts.

• Broader factors contributing to regional instability.

Understanding Middle East Conflict

The Middle East is a region defined by its complex geopolitical history and ongoing conflicts. A key element is the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict, rooted in competing claims to land following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of Israel in 1948. Understanding these historical layers is crucial to grasping current challenges.

Middle East map: Arab-Israeli conflict's historical roots.

Middle East: Geography &amp; Nations

The Middle East is a geopolitically vital region encompassing diverse nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Israel. Key physical features include the Arabian Peninsula, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and the Persian Gulf. Strategic waterways such as the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz are critical for global trade and energy routes, making the region a focal point for international relations.

MENA geopolitical map: alliances, conflicts, and vital waterways.

Ancient Roots: Land &amp; Peoples

Both Jewish people and Arab communities possess deep historical ties to the land of the Middle East, predating modern nation-states. Jewish presence traces back over three millennia to ancient Israel, with Jerusalem as its spiritual heart and continuous habitation. Arab communities have maintained a continuous presence since the 7th-century Islamic conquests, establishing a rich cultural and religious heritage across the region.

Zionism: Jewish Self-Determination

Arab Nationalism: Regional Aspirations

Emerging in the late 19th century, Zionism became a political movement advocating for Jewish self-determination and the establishment of a homeland. Theodor Herzl's 1896 work, *Der Judenstaat*, and the First Zionist Congress in Basel (1897) formalized this aspiration, largely in historic Palestine. This movement was a direct response to escalating antisemitism and a desire for secure sovereignty.

Concurrently, Arab nationalism gained momentum, driven by the decline of the Ottoman Empire and a yearning for independent Arab states. Figures like Sati' al-Husri promoted a pan-Arab identity and political unity across the region. This burgeoning movement sought sovereignty over territories, including Palestine, setting the stage for competing claims.

Balfour Declaration &amp; Mandate

• 1917: Britain's Balfour Declaration supported Jewish "national home."

• Lord Balfour's letter addressed to Zionist leader Lord Rothschild.

• Post-WWI: League of Nations granted Britain Palestine Mandate.

• Mandate fueled Arab nationalism and Zionist aspirations.

1948 War &amp; Its Aftermath

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, known as the War of Independence by Israelis, commenced immediately following the end of the British Mandate and Israel's declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948. This conflict resulted in significant territorial changes and the mass displacement of approximately 700,000 Palestinians, an event termed the Nakba or 'catastrophe.' Its profound consequences continue to shape the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.

1948 War Map: Territorial changes and Palestinian displacement.

War's aftermath: destruction, displacement, and lasting impact.

Middle East Conflict: An Overview

Historical roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict.; Geographical and national context of the Middle East.; Impact of competing nationalisms and external influences.; Role of land, resources, and ideology in conflicts.; Broader factors contributing to regional instability.

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