The Cold War wasn’t just about the United States and the Soviet Union.  As these two superpowers faced off, a number nations around the world remained tense and on full alert.  One particular hot spot was in the Middle East, where the Palestinians and the Israelis continually battled one another for the most sacred land on earth.

           

The troubles in the Middle East eventually became a battle ground for the entire Cold War.  The United States offered its support to Israel.  The Soviet Union backed the Arab nations.  It became a chess match of global politics, with both sides fearing the potential consequences of an unwise move.

           

Fortunately, global tensions were eased with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, which effectively ended the Cold War.  Middle Eastern nations weren’t able to enjoy the peace that was experienced by many of the former Soviet bloc countries in Eastern Europe. 

           

The Middle East remained—and still remains—one of the world’s most politically sensitive and tense places on earth.  In fact, recent events in the area are far too similar to the violent occurrences that took place during the Cold War.  In October 2004, over 30 Israeli and Egyptian tourists were killed when at least three suicide terrorists drove car bombs into popular Egyptian hotels.

           

Like other terrorist attacks, it has been hard to decipher exactly who was responsible for the vicious murders.  Several groups claimed responsibility, but only after being safely hidden from immediate retaliation.  Experts believe that the attacks were aimed at Israeli civilians, over 15,000 of whom were visiting the area during the Jewish holiday season.

           

The infamous terrorist group al Qaeda has also been suspected of the attack.  Al Qaeda was the organization responsible for the September 11^th terrorist attacks, which were the worst ever on American soil.

           

This attack on Israeli civilians has received an international response that can be compared to the 1972 Munich Massacre.  During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, eleven members of the Israeli wrestling team were taken hostage by a Palestinian terrorist group.  

           

The terrorists demanded over 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails.  The request was refused.  After an uncoordinated attempt to fight the hostages by the local German police force, all of the hostages were murdered.  Five of the terrorists were also killed in the ensuing gunfight.  After a one day suspension, the games carried on as planned (with the consent of the Israeli government).

           

Since that disastrous event, Israelis have been the victims of numerous terrorist attacks from surrounding Arab nations.  The Palestinian people do not approve of the Jewish people having their own country in the area (which includes the holy city of Jerusalem), when they would also like to have their own country in the same location. 

           

Over the past few decades, Israel has gained a hard-line reputation by refusing to give into demands (just as it did not give into demands during the Munich Massacre) or forfeit land.  The Israelis are also notorious for seeking redemption after terrorist attacks.  Many of the culprits of the Munich Massacre have since been hunted down and killed by the Israel government.