Religious Conflict

If you click on the following link, you will see an entire program of study (offered at UCLA) on the Middle East. This site explains why someone might want major in Middle Eastern Studies and tells about different jobs in the field.

Middle Eastern Studies at UCLA

Needless to say, we could go on and on when we talk about the Middle East, particularly when it comes to religious conflict. However, we must hit only a few of the points and move on.

Intense religous conflict exists between Sunni and Shiite Muslims as we have been seeing in Iraq, but one of the most explosive situations involves the struggle over Jerusalem and Israel/Palestine.

It is no wonder that religious conflict is so prevalent in Jerusalem. Three major religions all lay claim to the same piece of land. This is definitely a geography problem. Each group can cite ancient literature that supports their claim to the land. "God" or "Yahweh" or "Allah" seems to have promised this land to a few different groups of people. None of the people are willing to leave.

This is not just a conflict of personality. This is a much deeper division that goes back generations. Modern politics have added some new twists to the whole situation, but the question remains the same: Who does the land belong to?

Palestinian Liberation Organization (P.L.O.) is now referred to as the Palestinian Authority

The PLO formed in 1964 in response to the formation of the new Isreal. The PLO has gained a reputation for initiating terrorism in and around Israel. One of their early tactics (the first 30 years of the PLO's existence) was to terrorize or try to scare the Jewish people out of Israel. However, as of 1993, the PLO has officially stated that it will no longer be associated with terrorism. In return for this promise, Israel officially recognized the PLO as a viable political entity for the first time since the PLO's formation. At that time the PLO became known as the Palestinian National Authority (or Palestinian Authority). Since 1993, several meetings between the Israeli Prime Ministers and Yassar Arafat (leader of the PLO and Palestinian Authority) have taken place in attempts to establish peace in the Middle East. However, Yassar Arafat died in 2004 and Mahmoud Abbas has taken over as President.

Click Here to view the Palestinian Authority's official website (optional).

The Palestinian Authority wants to "Liberate Palestine". They want Palestine to be an independent country. But where is Palestine? Is it a country today? No, it is not. Palestine used to exist where Israel is today. Thus, the conflict: Israel wants to remain intact and Palestine wants to re-establish itself, yet they both want the same piece of land-- a problem of geography.

Current Situation in Lebanon

Please click on the link below and read the article on Hezbollah (required). Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Queda are not the same and should never be lumped together. When U.S. government officials lump these groups together and say that we are fighting one war against them all, it basically unites the three groups and they are not necessarily united. We would have a much tougher time if they were united. So please do your part and don't ever lump them together. Our lives could depend on it. E-Mail your favorite government official and tell them too.

Hezbollah (required)

Click Here for the latest on the situation in Lebanon (optional)