This document is all the notes you will need for a Thematic essay in Religion, Ethnicity and Political Minorities. It has been divided into essay paragraphs that you can use in any essay under this topic
Religious conflict
Early:
- 1913 Conflict in Saudi Arabia
Main Shia village ‘Al-Hasa’ was conquered by the SA gov, led by the Sunni Wahhabi
fighters. After they helped the House of Saud established KSA in 1931 this
Wahhabism became very influential, 15% Shia population were highly opressed
during this.
- 1929 Conflict over Jerusalem
Ownership of religois sites in Jerusalem caused ocnflict between Arabs + Zionists,
Wailing Wall riots of 1929 = 113 Jews + 116 Arabs killed
- 1947-48 Civil war
Roads to Jerusalem were the most bloddy. Deir Yassin attacked led by Irgun killed
245 inhabitants
- 1948-49 Arab-Israeli war
Arabs put their best army (arab legion), Israelis were keen to defeat this army as they
were defending the Old City in the eastern part of Jersalem (contained Jewish holy
places). Israelis took control of Galilee - biblical significance for the Jews.
Middle:
- 1963+ Iraq
Sunni Baath party after losing power were tried and executed by the Shia government
that replaced them.
1979 Hussein became president leading to the brutal oppression of Shia muslims
where over 150,000 were forced to flee to Iran, led to 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war =
1,000,000 deaths BUT could be argued that the war was due to conflict about oil +
becoming the major geopolitical player in the ME.
- Effect of Iranian revlution in Saudi Arabia
Sunni - Shia divide became more prominent when Khomeni overthrew the Shah and
established an Islamic republic. Iran in attempt to export their islamic revolution
targetted SA’s Shia population. Saudi responds with attacks on the Shia population,
estimating in 219 killed.
Late:
- 1985 Hezbollah
Founded in Lebanon as a part of an Iranian effort in order for Shia miliant groups to
be a unified organisation. Has seen success against Israel in 1982 + 2006. They
promote an Islamic revolution through newspapers like Al-Da’wa = appeals to
thousands
- 1987 HAMAS + 2000 Camp David
Founded during the intifada after 366 palestinians had been killed in a year,
heightened religious tension between Jews + Muslims. Constant attacks on Israel +
refusal to recognise Israel led to the Israeli invasion of Gaza 2008 = 1,000 deaths.
,Political ideology conflict
Early:
- 1921 Arab riots
200 Jews + 120 Arabs dead
- 1936-39 Arab rebellion
Rioters fighting with the Yishuvon the basis that they were raking over what they saw
as their land.
Middle:
- 1948-49 Israeli-Arab war
Fighting occured in response to Statehood of Israel.
- 1970’s Lebanon
Divide between Chritian government and Shias - conflict manifested itself bacause a
due to the discriminative constitution that limited the political voice of Muslims only
to the rank of Prime Minister rather than President.
- 1970 Palestinian terrorism
Swiss plane blown up on its way to Israel. They usually responded by bombing
palestinians based in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
- 1979 Iranian revolution
Opposition increased through Mullahs, as they critised the corruption of the Shah and
his relationship with the non muslim west. The Shah’s secret police tortured the
Mullahs.
Late:
- 1982 operation peace of Galilee
Results as a response to terrorism - 1978 PLO suicide squad attacked a bus near Tel
Aviv killing 37 passengers + group of extremists attempting to murder Israeli
ambassador in London. Israel laucned invasion of Lebanon to eliminate PLO’s
military infrastructure, establish a security zone and install a pro-Israel government.
- 1987 Intifada
Isareli army veichel crashed into a lorry killing 4 Arabs. Funerals were high profile in
which a youth was shot by Israeli soilders. Tension rose in West bank and Gaza. BUT
tension already was increasing due to 80,000 settlements in Jerusalem and 20,000 in
West Bank + Gaza
- 2008 War in Lebanon
Due to issues like the constitution conflict - Hezbollah carried out various attacks
until they managed to gain a political voice in 2008
, Oil and Western intervention
Early:
- 1915 McMahon-Hussein letters
Conflicting promises in 1915 and 1917 led to Arab Riots in the 20s
- 1916 Sykes Picot
- 1917 Balfour
Middle:
- 1948 US support for statehood of Israel
- 1954 creation of AIPAC
advocating for issues such as foreign aid to Israel, promoting defense cooperation
between the United States and Israel
- 1953 Mossadeq Coup
US and UK wanted to overthrow Mossadeq , he nationalised Iran’s oil indistry which
was controlled by AOIC - threatened economic + strategic interest of the UK + US
who relised on Iranain oil. led to Iranian resentment towards the West due to the Shah
taking over – one outcome of which being some Iranian militants taking 50
Americans hostage from the US embassy in Iran in 1979.
- 1973 Oil embargo
launched by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries in response to Western support
for Israel. Prices quadrupling for US and UK highlighting the economic and political
leverage of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
Late:
- 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war
West supported Hussein, but this was bad as they increased his confidence, which
led to his invasion of Kuwait = more conflict
- 1993 + 1995 Oslo accords
Comrpomises between Palestine + Israel made to ease conflict
- 2000 Camp David
Obstacles blocking peace proved to be too great. Culminated in the second intifada.
- 2003 Gulf War
US’s + UK’s ‘intention’ for invading Iraq was for humanitarian concerns BUT their lack
of adequete troops served to destory the country, rather than improve it.
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