ABSTRACT
The political landscape of the Middle East is still undergoing continuous change. The October War, the Camp David accords, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, have all had far reaching repercussions. The role of the United States and the Soviet Union in this strategic area has been drastically modified, and both powers are presently setting forth new theories about their so-called vital interests and spheres of influence. The map of the Middle East has been changed and will undergo further change. New factors have emerged, new friendships and alliances have been established. The geopolitical situation has shifted greatly. New peace proposals exist – President Reagan’s initiative of 1 September 1982, the Arab Summit Conference in Fez, the Brezhnev initiative, and others. It remains to be seen whether further developments will be purely political or also encompass military confrontations between the parties to this chronic crisis.
