A quote by Golda Meir states that the main reason for conflict in the Middle East is for oil, and I believe it could not be more incorrect. Over the 20th century the Middle East and specifically the Israel and Palestinian area has been devastated by warfare caused by nationalism and statehood. Not only was conflict raised by nationalism, but also two deadly battles had taken place in the belief of nationalism. In the first, the Six Day War of 1967, Israel felt threatened from surrounding states and immediately took it upon themselves to attack first to keep their country safe. The second battle of Yom Kippur was in retaliation to the first attack several years earlier and was to show determination to remove the Jewish from their land. However, OPEC had made a bad decision to create tension due to the oil industry.
With regards to the Six Day War, this was the most one sided battle the Middle East had seen in the 20th century. Israel had planned to have peace talks with the surrounding States and their respective supporting super powers at the time. Prior to the peace talks neighboring states such as Jordan, Egypt, and Syria were preparing for war against Israel. Israel saw this threat and started preparing themselves. As peace talks began Israel launched an attack on Egypt’s air force, which was the three opposing States’ only hope at winning this battle. The attack lasted 6 hours and destroyed 90% of the air force. Battle continued for 5 more days and ended favorably for Israel claiming large amounts of land. All of which had been started by the true belief in ones country and who should, or shouldn’t, be on this land.
Being that Israel had taken, and militarily occupied land from all three attacking states, the states grew even more enraged at the presence of the Jewish. After several years had passed Egypt had grown confident again in its ability to destroy Israel. Teaming up with Syria, they were to take back the land they had previously lost, and were extremely close to being successful. At Israel’s last chance the USA had sent several military transport planes filled with equipment to make a counter attack. This counterattack was truly last minute and was key to the survival of Israel. This war was sparked from the idea of never backing down in the eyes of Egypt and thus a characteristic of nationalism.
On the other hand, the Oil Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC had changed the game by attempting to attack the United States economically. With an annual increase of 5% needs, the Middle East thought they had found an underbelly to the dominating super power. With tensions strengthened the US was able to avoid creating major conflict by turning to more domestic oil from Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
All together, the majority of battles had been triggered because of a strong belief of nationalism in all the countries of the Middle East. The Jewish believed that they belong to that land being that that is the land in which the controlled thousands of years ago. Nonetheless, Palestinians saw this as a takeover of land and felt they had to respond with the only language that would get acknowledged, war.
With regards to the Six Day War, this was the most one sided battle the Middle East had seen in the 20th century. Israel had planned to have peace talks with the surrounding States and their respective supporting super powers at the time. Prior to the peace talks neighboring states such as Jordan, Egypt, and Syria were preparing for war against Israel. Israel saw this threat and started preparing themselves. As peace talks began Israel launched an attack on Egypt’s air force, which was the three opposing States’ only hope at winning this battle. The attack lasted 6 hours and destroyed 90% of the air force. Battle continued for 5 more days and ended favorably for Israel claiming large amounts of land. All of which had been started by the true belief in ones country and who should, or shouldn’t, be on this land.
Being that Israel had taken, and militarily occupied land from all three attacking states, the states grew even more enraged at the presence of the Jewish. After several years had passed Egypt had grown confident again in its ability to destroy Israel. Teaming up with Syria, they were to take back the land they had previously lost, and were extremely close to being successful. At Israel’s last chance the USA had sent several military transport planes filled with equipment to make a counter attack. This counterattack was truly last minute and was key to the survival of Israel. This war was sparked from the idea of never backing down in the eyes of Egypt and thus a characteristic of nationalism.
On the other hand, the Oil Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC had changed the game by attempting to attack the United States economically. With an annual increase of 5% needs, the Middle East thought they had found an underbelly to the dominating super power. With tensions strengthened the US was able to avoid creating major conflict by turning to more domestic oil from Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
All together, the majority of battles had been triggered because of a strong belief of nationalism in all the countries of the Middle East. The Jewish believed that they belong to that land being that that is the land in which the controlled thousands of years ago. Nonetheless, Palestinians saw this as a takeover of land and felt they had to respond with the only language that would get acknowledged, war.