A volatile region.

This summer, war broke out between Israel and Palestinian Arabs. Both Jews and Arabs have long claimed the same land as their homeland.

Israel is the world's only Jewish nation. Bordered by Arab countries, it is the Middle East's only democracy.

Find the West Bank and Gaza Strip on the large map. Arabs want these areas for an independent Palestinian nation. Fighting began after Hamas and Hezbollah, two Arab militant groups that many Westerners consider terrorist, kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

The small map shows countries in the Middle East, and which side each takes in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The map also shows the religion that most people in each country follow: Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Judaism, or Christianity.

Study the maps, then answer the questions.

Questions

1. Which is the world's only Jewish nation?--

2. Israel is bordered by countries of which culture?--

3. Which Arab countries have signed peace treaties with Israel?--

4. Which group controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip?--

5. Which countries have a Shia majority?--

6. Which branch of Islam makes up the majority in most Middle Eastern countries?--

7. In which country on the map do Christians make up a significant minority of the population?--

8. Which country is the main supporter of Hezbollah?--

9. Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel from sites in which country?--

10. The southern part of which country is now a UN security zone?--

ANSWERS

1. Israel

2. Arab

3. Egypt and Jordan

4. Hamas

5. Iran and Iraq

6. Sunni Islam

7. Lebanon

8. Iran

9. Lebanon

10. Lebanon