ABSTRACT
The Middle East became as well known for the money that helped to fuel globalisation as it was for its conflicts. Israel has played a central role in Middle Eastern politics since its foundation in 1948. The disputes which accompanied its creation after the Second World War not only continued, but grew more extreme over time. Many aspects of Middle Eastern affairs were framed by the Arab–Israeli conflict in one way or another, even Cold War considerations. The clash of the superpowers played an important role in Middle Eastern politics, and their needs added another layer of complexity to the issues that concerned the region. The Iran–Iraq War and the intifada left hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians dead and injured across two different areas of the Middle East. The intifada retained the support of Palestinians, and this meant that Israel was unable to crush the rebellion.
