Tensions in the Middle East
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 9.4.3
Tensions in the Middle East - Political
There are political, cultural and economic tensions in the Middle East, partly because of complex geopolitical relations combined with the supply of vital energy resources from this region.
Israel
- Parts of the state of Israel is heavily disputed.
- Many Arab states would like to see the creation of a state for Palestine alongside the state of Israel.
- As the USA has always supported the creation of the state of Israel, the US struggles to maintain a positive influence in the Arab world.
- This situation has been heightened in 2018 when President Trump announced that he would move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
- This is a politically charged move because the eastern part of Jerusalem is also claimed by Palestinians.
- Jerusalem is a city home to holy sites for Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Iran and Iraq
- There are cultural tensions in Iran, stemming from ethnic, religious and historic tribal differences.
- In many nations, there is tension between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam.
- Over 90% of Iranians are Shia Muslims and over 60% of Iraqis are Shia Muslims. There are tensions between the Shias and the minority Sunnis.
Oil-producing regions
- The Middle East produces a high percentage of the world's oil output.
- Some people argue that part of the motivation for overthrowing Saddam Hussein was the US ability to access Iraqi oil.
- The continued Western involvement in Iraq and against ISIS may support this. Damage to the Middle East's oil infrastructure could have a global impact.
Environmental impact of Iraq War
- The US and the UK invaded Iraq in 2003.
- The Green Party wrote a report in 2003 about the environmental damage. They wrote that the huge quantity of toxic smoke produced by oil fires was the clearest sign of the extensive environmental damage caused by the war.
- They wrote that the fuel used by the coalition in the conflict was enough to supply the economy of 1.1 billion people.
- Finally, the use of ammunition tipped with Depleted Uranium represented a major chemical threat. It was possible that thousands of hectares were contaminated with deadly substances.
Test yourself on Tensions in the Middle East
Which city in the Middle East do Palestine and Israel both claim?
What did US President Trump do in 2018 to aggravate tensions between Israel and Palestine?
What do many people claim was an influence on the USA's invasion of Iraq?