Arab Crisis - Collapse of the Soviet Union

Palestinian Liberation Organization

• Founded in 1964 to represent the Palestinian people and pursue Palestinian self-determination.

• Originally supported armed struggle against Israel, but later recognized Israel and participated in peace negotiations.

Six-Day War

• A brief war fought in 1967 between Israel and neighboring Arab states including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.

• Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights during the conflict.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 242

• A United Nations resolution passed after the Six-Day War calling for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.

• Emphasized the right of every state in the region to live in peace within secure borders.

Yom Kippur War

• A surprise attack launched by Egypt and Syria against Israel in October 1973 on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

• The war led to major political changes and later peace negotiations in the Middle East.

Camp David Accords

• Peace agreements negotiated in 1978 between Egypt and Israel with U.S. mediation.

• Led to the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, signed in 1979.

Balfour Declaration

• A statement issued by Britain in 1917 supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

• Increased tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in the region.

Prague Spring

• A period of political reform and liberalization in Czechoslovakia led by Alexander Dubček in 1968.

• The movement was crushed by a Soviet-led military invasion to restore communist control.

Ronald Reagan

• President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and a major figure in the late Cold War.

• Known for anti-communist policies, military buildup, and economic policies called “Reaganomics.”

Glasnost

• A policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev that promoted openness and freedom of expression in the Soviet Union.

• Allowed greater criticism of the government and increased transparency in society and media.

Perestroika

• A reform movement started by Gorbachev to restructure the Soviet economy and political system.

• Intended to improve efficiency but contributed to weakening Soviet communist control.

Mikhail Gorbachev

• Leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until its collapse in 1991.

• Introduced Glasnost and Perestroika reforms and helped reduce Cold War tensions with the West.