Historical Development and Cultural Context
The Levant Region is the region of the Middle East that includes Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. These regions are located on the Eastern part of the mediterrenan sea and have Western sea coasts (except for Jordan). The Levant is part for the Fertile Crescent and was home to some of the ancient Mediterranean trade centers, such as Ugarit, Tyre, and Sidon. It is the homeland of the Phoenician civilization.
The countries we’re about to discuss have a shared history. Controlled by the Ottoman Empire until 1918, these regions fell into the hands of the French and the British and it wasn’t until the 1940’s that they became actual nation states.
LEBANON
Independent from France since 1943.
Area: 10,400 sq km (slightly larger than Connecticut)
Population: 5,882,562 (July 2014 est.)
Median age: 29.3 years
Capital: Beirut
Ethnic Groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Official Language: Arabic
Religion: Muslim 59.7%, Christian 39%, other 1.3%
(from the CIA World Factbook)
Significant Events:
Lebanese Civil War
13 April 1975 – 13 October 1990
(15 years and 6 months)
The Lebanese Civil War hindered the birth of a now very known political party with terrorrist characteristics, Hezbollah.
Violence and Actors:
From 1975 to present.
Phalangists (Maronite Christian Party), Hezbollah, Lebanese Front, Israel, USA, PLO, Iran and Syria
ISRAEL
Independent from Britain and granted freedom by United Nations in 1948
Area: 20,770 sq km (about the size of New Jersey)
Population: 7,821,850
Median age: 29.9
Capital: Jerusalem (although all international embassies are in Tel Aviv)
Ethnic Groups: Jewish 75.1%, non-Jewish 24.9% (mostly Arab)
Official Language: Hebrew & Arabic
Religion: Jewish 75.1%, Muslim 17.4%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.9%
Significant Events:
It is hard to single out one significant event. An event that has definetely left its legacy would be the 1967 War, where Israel gained the territorries of Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and the West Bank. Another significant event would be the first intifada, which gabe birth to Hamas, a militiant and political party, and terrorrist organization (according U.S and EU).
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