Contemporary history of the Middle East

From 1956 to nowadays

Sébastien GALLAND

1958: Iraqi revolution
1957
• Israel withdraws from Sinai and Gaza.

1958
• Iraq proclaimed a republic
• following revolution Baghdad Pact. and shortly after leaves

S. GALLAND

1964 : PLO – 1967 : 6-day war
1963
• Ba'athists take power in Syria.

1964
• Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) founded.

1967
• Arab-Israeli "Six-Day" war; • UN Security Council Resolution 242 is passed
• Israel in Sinai, West Bank, Golan Heights and south Lebanon

1968
• Ba'athists take power in Iraq.
S. GALLAND

S. GALLAND

1973: war of Yom Kippur
1970
• Death of Nasser.

1971
• Britain leaves the Gulf. • United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain become independent. Qatar and

1973
• Arab-Israeli war of Ramadan/Yom Kippur.
S. GALLAND

Operation Nickel Grass Yom Kippur War , 1973
On 6 October 1973 an Egyptian/Syrian coalition launched a two-prong attack on Israel
• First significant use of Surface to Air Missiles
• Heavy Israeli losses initially

• Israel held, but ran low on supplies • US provides airlift weapons supply

1st oil crisis as a respons from OPEC
S. GALLAND

U.S. Interests in Israel
Surrounded by Soviet-equipped aggressors Sympathy over Holocaust Jewish lobby strong in the U.S.
• 3% of population, 10% of Senators

Strong ally in many sticky situations

S. GALLAND

1979: Egypt/ Israel – Iran
1974
• Arab summit recognises PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people

1975
• Civil war breaks out in Lebanon.

1978
• Israel invades Lebanon

S. GALLAND

79: Camp David and Iranian Revolution
1978 Israel – Egypt Sept. 17, 1978
• President Carter, Camp David, MD • Begin – Sadat • First peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country • Israel withdraws from Sinai.

1979
• Iranian Revolution.
• The shah is deposed and replaced by the Ayatollah Khomeini (Islamist)
S. GALLAND

Sunni / Shia

S.