Working for peace in the Middle East EQ

Working for peace in the Middle East EQ: Why did America get involved in efforts to bring peace to the Middle East (Persian Gulf War)?

Middle East: Area rich in oil that the U. S. began paying more attention to concerning foreign policies n One major conflict in the Middle East centers around control of an area called Palestine. n Arabs and Jews have lived in this strip of land on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea for thousands of years. It’s been under the control of many different rulers.

n In 1947, the UN divided Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. u The Jews accepted the decision and established the state of Israel. u The Arab countries rejected the land division plan and attacked Israel in 1948. n Israel won the war and took over much of the land in the Arab state. Since then, there has been continual conflict in the Middle East. n

Palestine 1947 Today

Israel

The U. S. government has made several attempts to bring peace to the Middle East n n n 1978: President Jimmy Carter, Israeli Prime Minister Begin, and Egyptian Prime Minister Sadat met at Camp David in Maryland. This meeting led to a 1979 peace treaty at the White House 1993: President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, and Palestinian leader Arafat met at the White House. A peace accord was signed. 2000: President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Barak and Palestinian leader Arafat met at Camp David. They never reached a final agreement.

War in the Persian Gulf n n n The U. S. became involved in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Troops under Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq, invaded the neighboring country of Kuwait. Hussein wanted to control Kuwait’s many oil fields. The UN told Hussein to withdraw his forces, but he refused. The U. S. fought against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War George Bush asked other countries in the UN to form a coalition to stop Iraq.

Persian Gulf War n Invasion and bombing by a force led by the US to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi invasion

Kuwait Iraq

Operation Desert Storm n The United States military led a group of other nations (called a coalition) to recapture Kuwait from Iraq control. n American aircraft pounded Iraq while ground forces quickly forced Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. n The conflict was over in 6 weeks and Hussein remained in power which worried leaders in the US in the years to come.

1. Name the American presidents who have been involved in historic peace negotiations between the Arabs and Israelis. 2. Conflict in the Middle East centers around control of: a. Egypt b. Israel c. Palestine 3. With what country did the U. S. fight against in the Persian War? a. Kuwait b. Afghanistan c. Iraq 4. Why did America get involved in efforts to bring Peace to the Middle East?