Middle East

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on the Middle East. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
10.05.2012	Armenia 2012
	Armenia has recently held a parliamentary election that appeared to show that the country's political culture is making some progress. There remain two big problems in Armenia's relations with other countries: its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, which observers fear may spark another war, and the argument over whether the 1915 massacres amounted to genocide.
09.05.2012	The Syrian Crisis: Update May 2012
	On 21 March, the UN Security Council supported a peace plan devised by Kofi Annan that called for a ceasefire, humanitarian access to Syria and the withdrawal of forces from urban areas. All sides declared their willingness to adhere to the plan. The Annan plan is at present the only hope of ending the accelerating violence in Syria, which has now caused more than 9,000 deaths, according to UN estimates.
26.04.2012	Palestine update 2012
	Talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians on a two-state solution have stalled, with scarcely any meetings since 2010, but the Palestinian question has been displaced from the headlines by the crisis in Syria and mounting concerns about the Iranian nuclear programme.
15.03.2012	Is it legal to use force against Iran?
	The answer to this question depends largely on your view of whether Iran is about to use nuclear weapons.
06.02.2012	Chilcot Inquiry: an update
	The Iraq Inquiry, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, was originally expected to have reported by now but the broad scope of the inquiry and the amount of evidence have led to delays in publication, which is now not expected until summer 2012 at the earliest. This note provides a brief update on progress.

Research Papers

Date	Description
15.11.2011	The Arab Uprisings
	Since December 2010, the most profound process of change has affected the countries of the Arab world. The change spread quickly between the countries of the region, underlining the many common factors that provoked unrest. How the region's revolutions progress, however, depends on the individual characteristics of each country, which are very different. This paper looks at these similarities and differences and considers the possible outcomes in each case. The legitimacy of ruling regimes, the effect of societies' divisions along confessional lines and the role of the region's militaries are considered.
11.12.2009	The Islamic Republic of Iran: An introduction
	This paper provides an introduction to the Islamic Republic of Iran; its politics, economy, foreign and defence policies, and nuclear programme. It examines the governmental structure of the theocratic state, analyses the key personalities and forums of decision-making and assesses Iran's policies at home and abroad.
06.07.2007	Hamas and the seizure of Gaza
	Hamas and the seizure of Gaza. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/60.
19.01.2007	The crisis in Lebanon
	The Crisis in Lebanon. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/08.
08.11.2006	Democracy and the Middle East: Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Saudi Arabia
	Democracy and the Middle East: Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Saudi Arabia. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/54.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
06.10.2009	Global security: Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
	Government response. Foreign and Commonwealth Office report [Commons]
15.07.2009	Global security: Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
	Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
08.02.2012	PROPOSED EU LEGISLATION ON FINANCING OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN THE WEST BANK
	That this House welcomes the December 2011 Report by the EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah, especially the proposal for appropriate EU legislation to prevent and discourage ...
08.02.2012	GENERAL STRIKE IN EGYPT
	That this House expresses its support for the general strike in Egypt due to be held on 11 February 2012 called by the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions and supported ...
26.01.2012	LIVING IN THE HOLY LAND AND NATIONAL CURRICULUM
	That this House believes that life over the last 100 years in that part of the Middle East known as the Holy Land should form part of the National Curriculum for History so that pupils ...
24.01.2012	DIALOGUE WITH IRAN
	That this House is deeply concerned at the prospect of war with Iran; is appalled at the naval military build-up in the Persian Gulf and the danger that this may spark a conflict with ...
11.01.2012	WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION FREE ZONE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
	That this House welcomes the Government's support for the establishment of a weapons of mass destruction free zone in the Middle East since the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
12.03.2012	Debate on 16 March: Recent Developments in the Middle East
	This Library Note provides a brief summary of recent developments in Egypt, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Libya and Syria, as well as a table of statistical information covering the whole of the Middle East and North Africa.
03.02.2012	Question for Short Debate on 8 February: Blockade of Gaza
	This Library Note provides an overview of the blockade of Gaza by the Government of Israel, including its history, attempts to bypass the blockade and recent developments. It then examines the impact of the blockade on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and finally the response of the British Government.