Economic and Political Issues in the Middle East.

Intro -- ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1 THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND PROPOSED U.S. NUCLEAR COOPERATION -- ABSTRACT -- THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: BACKGROUND AND U.S RELATIONS -- THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NUCLEAR PROGRAM -- Rationale -- Development Plans -- Current Infrastructure and Regulatory Regime -- PROPOSED U.S.-UAE COOPERATION -- Memorandum of Understanding -- Proposed Bilateral Agreement Pursuant to Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 -- Nuclear Cooperation Agreements, Approval Process, and Proposed Changes -- ISSUES FOR CONGRESS -- Nonproliferation Concerns -- Possible Diplomatic Implications -- Shaping Nonproliferation Standards and Best Practices -- Commercial Opportunities -- Bilateral Relations and UAE Cooperation in Nonproliferation Activities -- LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 110TH AND 111TH CONGRESS -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 2 TOWARDS POSSIBLE DYNAMIC AND FLEXIBLE LABOR MARKET: AQABA-JORDAN -- ABSTRACT -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- 2. NATIONAL CONTEXT -- 3. MINDSETS -- 4. STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS OF LABOUR MARKETS -- 5. THE SITUATION IN AQABA -- 6. REMARKS AND CONCLUSIONS -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 3 ISRAELI-ARAB NEGOTIATIONS: BACKGROUND, CONFLICTS, AND U.S. POLICY -- ABSTRACT -- MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS -- Israel-Palestine -- U.S. Policy in the Obama Administration -- Israel-Syria -- Background -- U.S. Role -- Madrid Conference -- Bilateral Talks and Developments -- Israel-Palestinians -- Israel-Syria -- Israel-Lebanon -- Israel-Jordan -- SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS -- Israel-PLO Mutual Recognition -- Declaration of Principles -- Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area -- Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty.

Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, West Bank-Gaza Strip -- Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron -- Wye River Memorandum -- Sharm al Shaykh Memorandum -- A Performance-Based Road Map to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict -- Agreement on Movement and Access -- Joint Understanding -- ROLE OF CONGRESS -- Aid [141] -- Jerusalem -- Compliance/Sanctions -- Israeli Raid on Suspected Syrian Nuclear Site -- Other -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 4 IRAN'S ECONOMIC CONDITIONS: U.S. POLICY ISSUES -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- HISTORICAL CONTEXT -- OVERVIEW OF IRAN'S ECONOMY -- ECONOMIC POLICY AND REFORM EFFORTS -- IRAN AND THE RECENT GLOBAL ECONOMIC TURNDOWN -- ECONOMIC STAKEHOLDERS -- Bonyads -- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps -- Private Sector -- ECONOMIC SECTORS -- Oil and Natural Gas -- Agriculture -- Manufacturing -- Steel -- Automotives -- Food Products -- Petrochemicals -- Financial Sector -- Tehran Stock Exchange -- Financial Sanctions -- Money Laundering -- Informal Finance Sector -- INTERNATIONAL TRADE -- Major Goods Traded -- Importance of Oil Exports to Iran's Economy -- Iran's Dependence on Gasoline Imports -- Key Trading Partners -- United Arab Emirates and Transshipment Trade -- U.S.-Iranian Trade -- International Sanctions and International Trade -- Trade Liberalization -- INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL FLOWS -- Foreign Exchange Reserves -- Foreign Investment in Iran's Economy -- International Loans and Assistance -- World Bank -- Bilateral Official Development Assistance -- CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES AND OPTIONS -- Unilateral and Multilateral Approaches to Sanctions -- Impact of Sanctions on Iran's Economy and Policy -- Impact of Sanctions on U.S. Economy -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 5 U.S. FOREIGN AID TO THE PALESTINIANS -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- OVERVIEW AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.

TYPES OF U.S. BILATERAL AID TO THE PALESTINIANS -- Project Assistance through USAID -- Types of Funding Programs -- Vetting Requirements and Procedures -- Direct Assistance to the Palestinian Authority -- Assistance for PA Civil Security Forces -- U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNRWA -- Overview -- Issues for Congress - Vetting and Oversight -- THE 900 MILLION U.S. PLEDGE AND THE INTERNATIONAL DONORS' EFFORT -- The U.S. Pledge and Proposed FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations -- Overview -- Hamas's Role in a ―Unity Government‖-Different Approach to Aid Conditions? -- Congressional Consideration of Proposed FY2009 Supplemental -- International Pledges and the Gaza Reconstruction Effort -- FACTORS IN DETERMINING FUTURE AID -- Effectiveness of U.S. Assistance in Strengthening the PA in the West Bank -- Economic Development and International Donor Assistance -- Hamas and a ―Unity Government‖? -- Questions Regarding a Two-State Solution -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 6 SYRIA: BACKGROUND AND U.S. RELATIONS -- ABSTRACT -- SYRIA 2000-2009: FROM ISOLATION TO ENGAGEMENT -- A New U.S. Approach toward Syria? -- CURRENT ISSUES -- 2008-2009 War in Gaza -- A Syria-Israel Peace Deal? -- Syria's Role in Lebanon -- Iraqi Refugees in Syria -- Clandestine Nuclear Program and the IAEA Investigation -- Relations with Iran -- Syrian Support for Terrorist Activity -- U.S. Sanctions -- General Sanctions Applicable to Syria -- Specific Sanctions Against Syria -- The 2003 Syria Accountability Act -- Implementation -- Waivers -- Targeted Financial Sanctions -- Effect of U.S. Sanctions on Syria's Economy -- RECENT CONGRESSIONAL ACTION -- New Legislation -- SYRIA'S NEED FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REFORM -- INTERNAL POLITICAL SCENE -- Pillars of the Regime -- The Alawite Sect -- The Ba'th Party -- The Military and Security Establishment -- The Syrian Opposition -- The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.

The Damascus Declaration -- Syrian Dissidents, Exiles, and Defectors Abroad -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 7 AFGHANISTAN: GOVERNMENT FORMATION AND PERFORMANCE -- ABSTRACT -- POST-CONFLICT POLITICAL TRANSITION AND POLITICAL LANDSCAPE -- GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE [2] -- Official Corruption and Compromises with Faction Leaders -- Increasing Focus on Local Solutions and Governance -- Overall Human Rights Issues -- Funding Issues -- 2009 ELECTIONS -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 8 ISRAEL AND HAMAS: CONFLICT IN GAZA (2008-2009) -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION: ISRAEL'S 2008-2009 GAZA CAMPAIGN [1] -- Overview of the Conflict -- Major Developments - Military, Diplomatic, and Humanitarian [8] -- The Conflinct's Origins -- Can Israel Achieve Its Goals? [19] -- THE UNRAVELING OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASE-FIRE -- Background of Hamas in the Gaza Strip -- The Cease-Fire and Its End -- IMPACT ON CIVILIANS [24] -- Impact on Palestinian Civilians -- Impact on Israeli Civilians -- INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE -- International Community -- United Nations -- United States -- Middle East -- POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE GAZA CAMPAIGN -- Effects on the Arab-Israeli Peace Process -- Prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian Two-State Solution -- A Syria-Israel Peace Deal: Still in the Cards? [52] -- Mounting Pressure on Egypt -- Impact of Conflict on Israeli Election -- The General Palestinian Response -- IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY AND THE 111TH CONGRESS -- The Incoming ObamaAdministration -- From Proactive to Reactive? -- Public Dimplomacy Challenges -- Possible Options for the Incoming 111th Congress -- Defense Budget Appropriations for U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense Programs -- Oversight of U.S. Arms Sales to Israel -- Humanitarian Aid (Including to UNRWA) and Other Economic Assistance to Palestinians -- U.S. Security Assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

CONCLUSION: STRATEGIZING AN EXIT AND A FUTURE -- Conundrums -- Ways of Reaching and Sustaining a Truce -- REFERENCES -- INDEX.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.