Conflict in the Middle East & the war against global terrorism MCQs for UPSC CSE Exam

The beginning of US hegemony is marked by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. This event significantly shifted the global balance of power, leaving the United States as the world's sole superpower.

The strategy in which a country chooses to stay as far removed from the dominant power as possible is referred to as the "Hide Strategy."

The Camp David Accords
The significant event that occurred in 1978 which led to the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt was the Camp David Accords.
- **Camp David Accords**: The Camp David Accords were signed on September 17, 1978, by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, with the mediation of U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the presidential retreat of Camp David in Maryland.
- **Return of Sinai Peninsula**: As part of the Camp David Accords, Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- **Historic Agreement**: The agreement marked a significant step towards peace in the Middle East, as it was the first time an Arab country had officially recognized Israel and established diplomatic relations with it.
- **Impact**: The return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt was a major concession by Israel and a significant achievement in the peace process in the region. It paved the way for the signing of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1979.
- **Legacy**: The Camp David Accords and the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt are considered a milestone in Middle Eastern diplomacy and have had a lasting impact on the region's geopolitics. They set a precedent for future peace negotiations and agreements in the Middle East.

In 1967, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike in what is known as the Six-Day War, during which it captured significant territories, including the Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

In 1948, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Trans-Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen opposed the partition of Palestine and launched an attack against Israel.

The primary objective of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, 'Operation Iraqi Freedom,' was to prevent the development of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

In the context of hegemony, "hard power" refers to military capabilities and technological superiority, as demonstrated by the US military's dominance.

Bill Clinton, during his presidency, focused more on domestic issues like climate change and world trade rather than military power and security.

The period of Palestinian uprising in the late 1980s is known as the Intifada, which included both non-violent and violent protests.

According to the UN partition plan for Palestine after World War II, the Jewish state was allocated 57% of the land.

The Oslo Peace Accord, signed in 1993, resulted in Israel recognizing the PLO and granting limited autonomy to Palestinians in exchange for peace.

In 2002, Israel's construction of a large security fence in the West Bank drew international criticism for encroaching into Palestinian land.

In 2004, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced the withdrawal of troops and settlements from the Gaza Strip.

The military operation that liberated Kuwait from Iraqi forces in 1990-1991 was called "Operation Desert Storm."

On September 11, 2001, hijackers from Arab countries crashed commercial planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York, marking a significant event known as 9/11.

The second meaning of "hegemony" relates to structural power and its role in providing global public goods, stabilizing the world economy, and shaping economic norms.

General Norman Schwarzkopf led the coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm in the First Gulf War.

'Operation Infinite Reach' in 1998 aimed to bomb Al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan and Sudan in response to the bombings of US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania.

The main reason for the United States' support for the establishment of Israel in 1947-1948 was humanitarian concerns for Jewish refugees, as many survivors of the Holocaust were in need of a homeland.

In 2006, the organization Hamas gained political power in Palestine, leading to concerns about its militant tendencies.