At the center of one of the world's most intractable conflicts are a people who number fewer than 12 million worldwide: the Palestinians. For centuries these people of Arab ancestry lived in the eastern Mediterranean region known as Palestine or, because of its religious significance, as the Holy Land. In 1948 a United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states led to what Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip areas...

Discusses the geography, history, economy, government, religion, people, foreign relations, and major cities of Syria.

Since the 1970s, Afghanistan has been devastated by social unrest and civil war, as various groups have fought for control over this country in central Asia. The United States and other nations have tried to help create a democratic and progressive government, but many problems remain. The U.S.-backed Afghan government must still contend with various factions for control. One of these is the resurgent Taliban, an Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan...

Discusses the geography, history, economy, government, religion, people, foreign relations, and major cities of Iran. Founded in 1955, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, FPRI, is one of the nation's oldest think tanks. It brings the insights of scholarship to bear on issues in American foreign policy. Through its Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education, FPRI promotes international and civic literacy in the classroom by teaching the teachers....

Examines the economic and political issues facing Pakistan today. Includes information about geography, climate and relations with other countries.

Though small, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays a crucial role in the affairs of the volatile Middle East. A moderate Arab country, Jordan borders not only Israel and the West Bank, but also Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. This strategic location-along with the nuanced and forward-looking foreign policy of Jordan's young ruler, King Abdullah II- has made Jordan an island of calm in the often turbulent Middle East. Political stability and Jordan's...

The modern Republic of Turkey, which emerged from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, is unusual among the nations of the Middle East. It is a democracy in a region where most rulers are autocrats. It is a Muslim country that enforces strict separation between religion and public life. Turkey is also among the most western-aligned states in the Middle East. It is the only Muslim state to be part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization...