was often seen as a partisan position contrary to NAM’s principles. Another weakness of NAM

  • What was the main purpose of 1955 Bandung conference?
  • How did super powers react to the principles of Non-alignment?
  • Why were the Non-aligned nations known as third world countries?
was its inability to effectively stop its own members from waging wars against each other. Thus, when Iran and Iraq were in a long war lasting seven or more years, NAM could do little about it. Despite these limitations, the NAM helped the newly independent nations assert their autonomy in international affairs in a world torn between the two super powers

West Asian Conflicts

West Asia refers to the region towards the west of Asia. The term ‘Middle East’ is also used to describe this area. The conflicts that developed between Arabs and Jews are often described as the West Asian Crisis. It was mainly related to the occupation of Palestine. Palestine, which was inhabited by Arabs, was under the control of Britain before Second World War. Jerusalem, which is a holy city for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is situated in it.

The Jews traditionally considered Palestine as their ‘Promised Land’ from where they had been exiled in ancient times and pushed across Europe and Asia. In Europe, they were a persecuted community as Christians considered them responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The conflict came to a head in Germany under the Nazis when millions of Jews of Europe were jailed and killed.

A movement had emerged among the Jews called the ‘Zionist Movement’ which called for uniting Jews spread across the world and to reclaim Palestine as their homeland and build a separate state for Jews. After 1945, this demand was supported by Western powers. However, since Palestinians (who were mostly Arab Muslims) were already living there, this became a bone of contention.

Matters were also complicated by the discovery of massive oil reserves in the Middle East, especially in the Arabian peninsula. Both US and USSR wanted to bring this region under their sphere of influence and would not let the other country establish its control.

In 1947, United Nations passed a resolution, according to which, Palestine was divided into two parts -Arab and Jewish States. In 1948, the British withdrew their troops from Palestine and Israel was created for Jews. The Arabs did not agree to giving up their homeland. The Arabs refused to recognise Israel as a legitimate state. The policies pursued by the state of Israel increased the bitterness. The Arabs were forced to leave their homes and properties and had to take shelter as refugees in the other Arab states.

The President of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970), made an effort to unite the Arabs. He formed fidayeens (suicide squads) for causing explosions in



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