Middle East The political systems of Middle Eastern countries display considerable variety. For much of the post-World War II period, the greatest distinction was between the conservative, capitalist, pro-Western monarchies and the reformist, socialist, and neutralist or pro-Eastern republics, many of which were military regimes. Pan-Arabism, which seeks to reunite the Arabs, was a dominant ideological force in much of the region. The failure of Arab unification schemes, particularly between Egypt and Syria between 1958 and 1961, …showed first 75 words of 401 total…

…showed last 75 words of 401 total…next two years. A change of government in Israel led to secret meetings in Oslo, Norway, with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The outcome was an Israeli- Palestinian accord signed in Washington on Sept. 13, 1993. For the first time, Israel recognized the PLO. It also granted limited self-rule to Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and Jericho. Israel and the PLO pledged to begin working out a permanent settlement in 1995, if the accord succeeded.