THEME 4

Question 1

What riots occurred in 1921?

Answer 1

Riots in Jaffa between rival Jewish groups spread into Arab Jaffa and led to Arab attacks on Jews and their property. 200 Jews and 120 Arabs were dead or wounded.

Question 2

What British policies were implemented in Palestine?

Answer 2

Peel Commission 1937
White Paper 1939
British withdrawal from Palestine 1947
UN Partition Plan 1947

Question 3

When was the Muslim Brotherhood founded, and what was it?

Answer 3

Muslim brotherhood was founded in 1928. Called for renewed faith in Islam, not in politics of European inspired reformers. Appealed to urban masses who had no trade unions to represent them. Offered social welfare for all the family and schools taught traditional learning.

Question 4

Why did Nasser fear the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood?

Answer 4

Nasser feared influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood was banned, along with all political parties in 1953. In October 1954, Nasser was shot by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood while making a speech.

Question 5

What did the Muslim Brotherhood oppose during Sadat’s rule?

Answer 5

The Muslim Brotherhood reappeared during Sadat’s presidency and expressed opposition to evidence of Western influence. More militant groups attacked peace made with Israel and called for establishment of an Islamic state.

Question 6

What were laws like under Mubarak?

Answer 6

Under Mubarak, after pressure from Islamists, more elements of Islamic law were incorporated into the legal system.

Question 7

What was the influence of the Sunni/ Shia divide in Syria?

Answer 7

The Baath party in Syria attracted support from Alawites, who were Shia Muslims. Clashed with Sunni-dominated Muslim Brotherhood.

Question 8

Which group did Saddam Hussein rely on to maintain power in Iraq?

Answer 8

In Iraq, Saddam Hussein relied increasingly heavy on fellow Sunnis, who formed a minority of the population.

Question 9

Who dominated Iraqi politics?

Answer 9

After 2003, Iraqi Shias used their majority status in the population to dominate Iraqi politics.

Question 10

What was the influence of the Sunni/Shia split on the Iran-Iraq war?

Answer 10

The Iran-Iraq war in 1980 was in part caused by tension as a result of the Shia-Sunni split. Iranian leader was calling on Iraqis to rise up to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

Question 11

What did the legitimacy of Saudi rule heavily rely on?

Answer 11

Legitimacy of Saudi’s rule relied heavily on its close alliance with the ulema, the Wahhabi religious leaders, and law making was largely left to them. Most laws were derived from the Koran and the ulema exercised wide-ranging influence over social life and still do today.

Question 12

Under the 1943 agreement, what religion had to be the president?

Answer 12

Since 1943, agreement in Lebanon meant that the president would be christian and the prime minister would be muslim. However, by 1970 the Muslim population had overtaken the Christian population, and they were demanding more power.

Question 13

Which group did many Lebanese Muslims support during the civil war?

Answer 13

In 1975, a civil war broke out in Lebanon. The Lebanese Muslims supported the Palestinians, while the Lebanese army were Christian. 14 September 2000, newly elected Christian president was killed, his armed supporters took revenge. Invaded refugee camps and carried out a massacre.

Question 14

In which month and year did Ariel Sharon visit Temple Mount?

Answer 14

September 2000- Ariel Sharon took tour of Temple Mount in Jerusalem with 1000 police officers. Visit was seen as a threat to Muslim Holy sites. Led to the start of the second intifada.

Question 15

How was Turkey defined after its formation in terms of religion and state?

Answer 15

Turkey formed as a completely secular state- Islamic schools and law courts were abolished and in 1928, the constitution which states ‘the religion of the Turkish state is Islam’ was abolished.

Question 16

n what year did the Baathists seize power in Iraq?

Answer 16

After Baathists seized power in Iraq in 1968, they brought many Shias into government in a show of unity.

Question 17

Who led much of the opposition to Iran’s regime in the late 1970s?

Answer 17

In the late 1970s, increasing opposition to Iran’s regime was led by the mullah’s, Muslim religious scholars. Friday prayers criticised the wealth, luxury and corruption of the shah and his supporters. In 1979 an Islamic revolution took place.

Question 18

What were the consequences of the 1979 Iranian Revolution?

Answer 18

After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, new laws, based on the Koran, were passed. Education was purged of un-Islamic influences, women had to cover their heads in public and alcohol, pop music and Western films were banned.

Question 19

What was the constitution in Lebanon to suit the religious divide?

Answer 19

The constitution was adjusted whereby the president would always be a Maronite christian and the prime minister was a Sunni Muslim.

Question 20

What effect did Nasser’s pan-arabism have on Lebanon?

Answer 20

It radicalised much of the Muslim population, which was already unhappy to share power with the christians. The Muslims were the main proponents of unifying with Syria because that would ensure Muslim dominance.

Question 21

How did the Muslim Brotherhood do in the 2005 elections?

Answer 21

The Muslim Brotherhood gained 20 per cent of the vote in Egypt’s November 2005 assembly elections and emerged as the lower houses largest opposition bloc.

Question 22

How did Saddam Hussein align with political Islam?

Answer 22

Saddam Hussein reinvented himself as an islamic nationalist. Middle East governments also adopted much of the Islamist agenda, conceding ground on religious personal law, particularly on issues of minority rights and equality for women, provided it did not threaten their power.

Question 23

What happened in 1970?

Answer 23

The PLO were expelled from Jordan. They had been acting as if they ruled much of Jordan: roaming around fully armed and setting up roadblocks. King Hussein saw them as a threat to his authority, and feared Israeli reprisals on his country.

Question 24

Where did Kurds form minorities?

Answer 24

The Kurdish problem remained to destabilise the politics of the three countries in which Kurds formed important minorities- Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

Question 25

What impact did the PLO have in Lebanon?

Answer 25

Palestinians arriving in Lebanon after the Six Day War contributed to the changing balance of Christians/ Muslims. The PLO had a destabilising impact as they came to dominate southern Lebanon and attacked Jewish settlements.

Question 26

What started the Iran-Iraq war?

Answer 26

Iranian leader following the revolution in 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini, called on Iraqis to rise up to overthrow Saddam Hussein. This was a contributing factor in Saddam Hussein's decision to invade Iran in September 1980.

Question 27

How did the British and Americans help the Kurds?

Answer 27

In the aftermath of the first gulf war, the British and Americans established no-fly zones which prevented Saddam regaining control of the north. A Sade haven was created for the Kurds, who have been effectively in control ever since.

Question 28

How did relations between the Iraqi government and Kurds improve in 1970?

Answer 28

Relations improved in 1970 when Saddam reached an agreement with the Kurdish leader, providing for the appointment of a Kurdish vice-president in the central government and the creation of an autonomous region. Relations deteriorated again in the four year transitional period.

Question 29

What was the Treaty of Lausanne?

Answer 29

The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne was a peace treaty signed in Switzerland on July 24, 1923, which officially settled the conflict between Turkey and the Allied Powers (including Britain, France, and Greece) following World War I. It established the borders of the modern Republic of Turkey, replacing the failed 1920 Treaty of Sèvres. This meant that Armenians lost their hopes of independence. The Turkish Armenians fled mainly to Lebanon and Syria, where after a few years they were offered a citizenship.

Question 30

What happened between the USA and PLO?

Answer 30

The USA began secret talks with the PLO in 1988, during the first intifada. The PLO recognised the state of Israel, and peace talks began between Israel and the PLO. Two Oslo Accords were signed before the peace process derailed.

Question 31

What was the Peel Commission?

Answer 31

During the Arab Rebellion, in 1937 the British Government set up an enquiry, led by Lord Peel which concluded that cooperation between Arabs and Jews was impossible. This was the first time that two separate states for Israel and Palestine were proposed.

Question 32

How did the Treaty of Lausanne restrict chances of independence?

Answer 32

Despite the Treaty of Sevres leaving open the possibility of an independent Kurdish state, the Treaty of Lausanne, which was signed by the Turks, the British and their allies in 1923, made no mention of the Kurds. Effectively ending hope for independence.

Question 33

What are the main issues between Israelis and Palestinians?

Answer 33

Israel and Palestinians have failed to reach an agreement on key issues such as Palestinian's right to return home, and the status of Jerusalem, which has been claimed as the capital by both groups. Another issue is the viability of an independent Palestinian state.

Question 34

Which religious group did Saddam Hussein rely on to support his government?

Answer 34

Saddam Hussein relied on the sunni minority in Iraq to support his government. His presidency started with the televised trial of a number of men, 21 of who were later executed.

Question 35

Which group joined Russia during World War I?

Answer 35

Armenian Turks joined with Russia during WW1. The Turks took revenge by ordering the deportations of the entire Armenian population from eastern Anatolia to northern Syria. Hundreds of thousands were killed, and many more died of hunger.

Question 36

In what year were these Iraqi elections held and who won?

Answer 36

In the 2005 Iraqi elections, as the Shias made up 60% of the population, most of their votes went to Shia parties, who thus won the seats in the Iraqi parliament. Shia-majority Iraq came to be seen as an ally of Iran.

Question 37

What happened to Shias under Saddam Hussein?

Answer 37

Under Saddam Hussein, Shias, who made up the majority of the population, were deported to Iran as their loyalty was not proven.

Question 38

How were Kurds treated under Saddam?

Answer 38

When the war ended with Iran in 1988, Saddam set out to depopulate much of the Kurdish nationalist movement. His forces used chemical weapons and carried out mass executions.

Question 39

How did Kurds live in Iraq?

Answer 39

Since the creation of Iraq in 1921, Kurds gas enjoyed a certain amount of autonomy and warned to achieve a separate homeland. There had been constant conflict between Kurds and Iraqi troops.

Question 40

What did Israel do in 2005?

Answer 40

In 2005, Israel moved all Jewish settlers and troops from Gaza.

Question 41

What happened in Palestine in 2006?

Answer 41

In 2006, elections were held for the Palestinian Parliament, which were won by HAMAS.

Question 42

What happened to Palestinians after the first Arab Israeli war?

Answer 42

By the end of the Arab Israeli war, over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs had become refugees. Most ended up in Gaza or the West Bank. These became disputed territories, with Israel gaining control after the six day war.

Question 43

Were the Baath party in Syria supported?

Answer 43

The Baath party in Syria was supported by the Alawites, an offshoot of Shia Islam, who formed only 12% of the population. They were opposed by the muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni organisation. Attacks from the Muslim Brotherhood led to retaliation by the government.

Question 44

How did Islamic fundmentalism fill the gap of Arab nationalism?

Answer 44

Islamic fundamentalism filled the vacuum left by Arab nationalism. It threatened and challenged the more conservative monarchies like Saudi Arabia. An aim which linked the ideologies was their efforts to exclude Western influences from the Arab World. Islamic fundamentalists were particularly critical of the huge US military presence on Arab lands.