Israel-Hamas War At 8 Months: Disastrous

On May 7, 2024 the war between Israel and Hamas begins its eighth month. Some 1,200 Israelis were murdered by 1,000 Hamas operatives on October 7, 2023. In the seven months since then, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. Among them, according to the Israeli Defense Force, were 11,000 Hamas soldiers, along …

The Terrible Tragedy of Lebanon, Where Violence and Dysfunction Never End

When I lived in the Middle East, Lebanon seemed like a jewel and Beirut sounded like a beautiful city worth visiting. In 2011, communications consultant Michael Karam wrote that under new leadership, Lebanon could be another Singapore. "“It has the capacity to be a wonderful boutique jewel, not unlike Singapore. It can be built on …

Rapid Reconstruction of Gaza in the Works

Arab Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman -- plus Egypt, Jordan, the U.S., and the European Union are creating a “massive postwar reconstruction plan…for the besieged Gaza Strip,” The Christian Science Monitor reports. The plan would “rebuild the coastal strip, unite and overhaul Palestinian governance, and create a Palestinian security force in …

Arabs Before Islam: Religion, Society, Culture

Kings and Generals: Before the rise of Islam in 610 A.D., Arabia was mostly composed of nomadic tribes called Bedouins, some of whom maintain that lifestyle today. They had "constantly shifting alliances, never-ending warfare, and rare occurrences of organized and centralized statehood. These tribes placed heavy emphasis on kin-related groups..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07OsSSt0ytc&t=159s Religions were polytheism, paganism, …

October, 1973: Israel’s Yom Kipper War May Be Closest Parallel to 2023 War

On the High Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, in October 1973, a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against Israel. The war lasted two weeks and five days. It took place mainly in the Golan Heights in northern Israel, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Suez …

Medieval Middle East and the Arab Empires: A Complete Overview

Made in History: "The Medieval Middle East video goes through the post-classical Middle East and the emergence of the Arab Empires. It begins with the early Bedouin culture and the rise of Islam. It follows the early Rashidun Caliphate and its expansion under the early caliphs, before delving into the Umayyad expansions into Western and …

Impressions of 6 Middle Eastern Countries: Safe, Friendly, Spectacular Tourism, Rich History

During eight years based in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, I also visited Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, and Egypt. I felt safe in all of them most of the time, met many friendly people, visited some spectacular sites, and gained an understanding of the region, and insights into human behavior in this environment. More.

How Did Muslims Conquer Arabia and the Levant?

Knowledgia: Part One -- The Start of the Caliphate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vTbCRYOnM Part 2: War with Byzantium. Conquering the Levant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZdsuV-Fp2I&t=13s Related: The Caliph: Leader of Islam for 14 Centuries. Part 1: The Foundation Pre-Islamic History of the Middle East, BC to Birth of Prophet Muhammad in 570 How Muhammad and His Followers Changed the World Pre-Islamic Arabia: What Was …

How Britain Started the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Free History Documentaries: "The bitter struggle between Arab and Jew for control of the Holy Land has caused untold suffering in the Middle East for generations. It is often claimed that the crisis originated with Jewish emigration to Palestine and the foundation of the state of Israel. Yet the roots of the conflict are to …

How FDR Charmed A Saudi King and Won Access to Oil

"After this first meeting between a U.S. president and a Saudi king, Franklin Roosevelt would leave behind a unique gift." In February of 1945, while WWII was at crucial stages in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, President Franklin Roosevelt feared an oil shortage that would complicate if not slow the allies' aggression. He arranged a …