In 1945 Seven principle Arab states, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Yemen formed a league to act jointly in international affairs and to advance Arab interests. By 1980 there were twenty-two members. In this area lay 2/3s of the World Oil reserves.

The movement that advanced the idea that the Jews should have their own homeland. In 1945 homeless survivors of the Nazi Holocaust sought out Palestine as a place of refuge that they considered pledged to them as a Jewish homeland in the first World War.

The British controlled the area during WWII. Arabs were upset at making territorial sacrifices because of Europe=s persecution of the Jews. Britain tried to limit immigration but failed. Finally after WWII the British handed the problem over to the UN which in 1947 voted for partition. The British withdrew and soon after in 1948 Zionists leaders proclaimed the Republic of Israel. A War immediately ensued in which the Jews increased the mandated area by 2.

In the confusion, Jordan annexed land in Eastern and Central Palestine including the West Bank of the Jordan River. This area had been designated under the partition for a Palestinian Arab State. (After many years of negotiations this area has been handed over to the Palestinians as their home state. A final treaty was signed in September 1995)

They built a bridgehead for Western scientific, technological, and democratic advances in an economically underdeveloped, semi-feudal area. They succeeded in developing modern industry and in reclaiming vast stretches of the Negev desert where they grew citrus fruits and other crops.

Egypt at first took the lead in the holy war against Israel. Arab states vowed to destroy Israel and this was the first attempt. Colonel Nassar announced that the Suez Canal would be nationalized. The British under Anthony Eden invaded with the help of Israel and France. The USSR backed Egypt and the USA stayed out of it. At last the British, Jews and French had to leave. Egypt continued to block Israeli shipping throughout the Suez.

The Egyptians moved to close the port of Aqaba. This action threatened to strangle the Israeli economy, and Israel retaliated. In a quick six day war the Israelis shattered the Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian armies, captured vast amounts of equipment, mostly of Soviet origin, and occupied extensive territories belonging to the three Arab states, taking over the west bank of the Jordan River and the Eastern part of Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria and the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt. The Arabs refused to sign a peace treaty of recognize Israel.

Added a highly volatile element to the situation. Concentrated in camps in neighboring Arab states, their leadership became increasingly militant, conducting guerrilla warfare, making armed incursions into Israel and carrying on terrorist activities in many parts of the world.

Palestinian Liberation Organization, Yassar Arafat is currently the leader. They established a government in exile and claim to represent 2.5 million Palestinians. They have been recognized by the United Nations and the Arab League. At first they Refused to recognize the existence of Israel, but now they do and have established a Palestinian state on the west bank of the Jordan River which now they have. They claim Jeruselem as their capital which the Jews do not recognize.

Became the President of Egypt after Nassar. He started out very anti Israeli. He soon terminated almost 20 years of close ties with the Soviet Union. He tried to project himself as leader of the Arab crusade against Israel.

On this Jewish holiday in 1973 Egyptian forces surprised the Israelis by attacking. The Syrians in the North invaded the Golan Heights. Israel stabilized the North and then turned its attention to the South. They soundly defeated the Egyptians and captured their large army. Israel had again captured more territory than it originally had. The Arab States began an embargo which tripled the price of gas in the United States. Soon a cease-fire was negotiated.

Tired of war Sadat decided to turn his attention to peace. Menachem Begin invited Sadat to Jerusalem while Sadat invited Begin to Egypt. Both were invited to Camp David by President Carter where they made their historic agreement. Essentially Begin gave back the Sinai while Sadat gave the use of the Suez Canal. However there would continue to be debate over the West Bank, which was settled in 1993 and the details agreed on in 1995.

A civil war between Christians and leftest Muslims of Lebanon had left the country in ruins. The PLO had created strongholds just North of Israel after being expelled from Syria. The civil war continued and Syria invaded to stabilize the situation, this threatened Israel enough to encourage them to invade Lebanon and made air strikes against PLO camps. In 1982 Israel made a full scale land and sea attack. They quickly closed in on the city of Beruit. The PLO forces were trapped and forced to surrender. Under a multinational peace keeping force the Palestinians were allowed to go to various Arab countries. Soon a new Lebanese President was elected but he was assassinated and the Israelis pushed further into Lebanon. After a civilian massacre by Christian militia who were working under Israeli military command popular support for the war deteriorated in Israel and they withdrew.

He succeeded his father who was ousted by the British for pro-axis activity. He became dictator of Iran but prevented Nationalization of the oil fields. Naturally this made him a friend to the West. With this aid he began to modernize Iran. This met with resistance from the religious right. However the Shah crushed opposition by the use of secret police. The United States ignored these abuses and continued to pour money into the Shahs regime.

In 1977 the country was turned head over heels over by strikes and riots. Eventually the Shah fled the country and the Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran. Their he led a revolutionary clerical government to bring the country back to fundamentalist Islam law. Women were forced to veil, universities were closed and Iran became a religious state or a Theocracy. Purges forced many of the opposition to flee the country.

In 1980 Iran and Iraq began a war which would last eight years. Neither the Soviets nor the Americans did much to help Iran. Both countries provided money and military aid to Iraq. Eventually the war drew to a close with minor territorial victory by Iraq. In the mean time Khomeini died and Sadam Hussain became a dominate Figure in the Arab world.