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Middle East Brief review

Middle East Brief review. January 2014 Dr. Mark Maggio. Syria سوريا ‎ . Civil war – stalemate President Bashar al-Assad Gov’t allied with Iran and Hezbollah Minority Alouite sect connected w/ Shiites Opposition Extremist Islamic fighters Militias loyal to al-Qaeda

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Middle East Brief review

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  1. Middle East Brief review January 2014 Dr. Mark Maggio

  2. Syria سوريا‎ • Civil war – stalemate • President Bashar al-Assad • Gov’t allied with Iran and Hezbollah • Minority Alouite sect connected w/ Shiites • Opposition • Extremist Islamic fighters • Militias loyal to al-Qaeda • Saudi Arabia and Qatar involved ( how? ) • Both sides are sworn enemies of Israel • Moderate opposition abandoned by the West • 100,000 + dead • Refugee issues in Lebanon & Turkey

  3. Lebanon لبنان‎ • Uneasy coalition government • Muslims (Half Sunni, half Shiite) 65% • Christians 35% • Druse tribe • Sectarian violence erupting • Staging ground for Hezbollah, Lebanese upset that Hezbollah joined the Syrian civil war on side of dictator

  4. Palestine1 • At war since 1948, not fully nation-state status yet • Gaza strip de-facto ruled by Hamas • Hamas is branch Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt • Muslim Brotherhood made illegal in Egypt • Gaza under siege from both Israel and Egypt (tunnels) • 1.7 million people, 3.5% growth rate (!) • Area, 4-7 miles wide, 25 miles long • No co-located capital: Ramallah • Sworn to destroy Israel

  5. Palestine2 • UN recognized state (3 disparate parts) • Vote: 138 – 9 plus 41 abstentions • Palestine dedicated to destruction of Israel, a UN member state • Palestinians face uphill struggle: • No control of borders, airspace or trade, separate and competing gov’ts in Gaza & West Bank, no unified army or police • Israel still controls: • West Bank of the Jordan River • Gaza strip access • Jerusalem • 65 yrs since U.N. voted (1947) to divide Palestine into 2 states, one for Jews, one for Arabs - Israel became a state but the Palestinians rejected the partition plan, and decades of tension and violence have followed

  6. Egypt مصر‎ • Arab Spring revolution fails (2010-13) (twice) • Under military rule now, Gen. el-Sissi • Democracy forces defeated • Also crack-down on Muslim Brotherhood • US confusion, backed both sides • Got Sinai back in 1979 Peace Treaty with Israel

  7. Jordan الأردن‎ • King Abdullah survived the Arab Spring • Constitutional monarchy • Hashemite tribe (not Palestinians) ruling since 1946 • Status regarding creation of Israel 1948 • Peace treaty (1994) with Israel • 6.3 million population • 2-3 million Palestinians (Sunnis) • < 1 million Iraqi refugees; 500,000 Syrian refugees

  8. Iraq العراق‎ • US coalition including Arabs depose Saddam Hussein • Ba’ath Party out, P.M. al-Maliki (Shiite) rule now • 65% Shiite, 35% Sunni, 15% of which are Kurdish • Kurdish independence, minority issues • Kurds and Marsh Arabs gassed, Christians & Jews fled • War: 2003 – 2011 (contractors still there) • 2013 deadliest year since 2008 • 8,000 killed, 18,000 injured • 200,000-600,000 deaths since 2003 • Failed State

  9. Saudi Arabia المملكةالعربيةالسعودية • Absolute monarchy al-Saud family since 1926 • No national elections, no political parties • Women’s issues, gays, death penalty for apostasy • No practice of Christian, Jewish, or other faiths allowed • Sunni Islam: Al-Wahabism (religious practice) • Two Holy Mosques (Mecca, and Kabaa in Medina) • Prophet Mohammad heritage, annual Hajj • Oil wealth

  10. Iran جمهوری اسلامی ایران • Ethnically Persian, not Arab • Islamic Republic, Ayatollahs, they are Shiite • Revolution 1980, Shah Pahlavi out • Women, gays, other religions executions • Competing pre-eminent regional power with Saudi • Sworn to destruction of America, Israel • Supports Hezbollah, Syrian gov’t • Nuclear weapons issue

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