STUDY GUIDE
Letter from the Secretary General Welcome Back! It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to the second edition of CBITMUN. I am a second year mechanical engineering student but debate is something I enjoy doing the most. As students of engineering it took a tremendous effort for the team of the 2011 conference to ensure that it was such a success. The number of MUNs is growing at a rapid rate in India with the whole nation embracing this concept with open arms and with more and more students involving themselves in MUNs we could initiate a revolution that would lead to young minds assuming greater responsibility. CBITMUN returns with 7 councils this year which shall ensure high quality debate and a very satisfactory council experience. I take great pride in taking over as the Secretary General of CBITMUN and my team and I shall ensure that August – September 2012 is an experience each and every one of you will cherish. I thank all of you who participated in last year’s conference and I hope that we see your continued support this year as well. Last year we promised an experience This year we promise a phenomenon Sreekar Reddy Secretary General CBITMUN 2012
Letter from the Chairperson
Dear Delegates, My name is Monica Seif, and I am a senior in the Lebanese American University, studying Biology. It is an honor for me to be chairing, for the second time, a futuristic council in the CBIT MUN.
I can’t but express to you how much I am looking forward to the negotiations and creative solutions you will come up with regarding the critical topic we are debating; the Iran-Israeli conflict. Be sure to be prepared for a few surprises! I look forward to meeting you all in a few months. � Thank You Monica Seif Chairperson, United Nations Emergency Response Committee
Background of Issue: Islamic Republic of Iran: Mindful of the fact that Iran was previously the very vast Persian Empire, it is country that not only is large geographically, but is also strategically located in the middle of the Middle East, surrounded by countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iraq etc... Iran’s significance lies in its ability to control the Persian Gulf, specifically the Strait of Hermes, whereby all oil tankers from Middle Eastern countries, i.e. 45% of the total world supply, passes through there. (If Iran is to close off the Strait, it would be devastating to the oil market and countries which benefit from it).
Iran’s brief history: Iran’s religion is Shiite Muslim, and Iran’s main concern throughout the years, dating back to Sunni Ottoman rule, was the protection and security of the Shiite population, which is a minority in the region. Iran took steps early on to try to ensure safety. After WWI, Iran tried to build its own security however in the period between WWI and WWII, Iran befriended the Western regime to try to ensure protection, while the west made use of this relationship to act as a police to control oil areas in the region. In 1979, an Islamic revolution occurred and the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was exiled to Egypt. A new regime was born under the extremist Shiite Islamic regime of Ayatollah Khomeini or Imam Khomeini.
The New Regime: Since then, Iran’s regime wanted to spread this Shiite revolution to nearby Sunni countries having Shite minority citizens. Moreover, Iran started enriching its military forces in order to not only maintain its newly found regime and its Shite ideaology, but to also help in backing the spreading of this regime with military power.
War with Iraq: In 1980, a political/religious war started between Iran (Shite Muslim) and Iraq (Sunni Muslim at the time). All Sunni countries backed Iraq. While Syria, under the Alawite Muslim regime, a regime also minor in the region, backed Iran. Iran’s purpose was defeated after 8 years of war, where Iraq remained Sunni, and Iran failed in spreading its revolution further than its borders. Pre and Post war results were the same.
Iraq from a Sunni to a Shite regime: In 1988, Iraq was facing conflict with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which led to the first gulf war in 1990-1991 called Desert Storm, where American forces bombed Iraq because it invaded Kuwait. Iraq lost the war and signed a treaty with the American Forces. In the Second Gulf war in 2003, American forces invaded all of Iraq and captured and killed all leaders of the regime including
Saddam Hussein. As a result, the Sunni regime fell and by democratic elections (higher population was Shite) the regime became Shite, giving Iran an advantage and additional support in the Middle East.
Iran re-strategizing after loss in 1988: After losing against Sunni Iraq in 1988, Iran decided to re-strategize in order to protect the Shiites and spread its regime. It took advantage of the Alawi regime in Syria and the Shiite Militias in Lebanon (Amal) and built a new powerful party called Hezbollah. Iran started to feed Hezbollah arms through Syria. Moreover, Iran realized that being a minority mulsim Shite population, they can’t protect themselevs and impose their strategy unless they become a regional military superpower.
Israel’s brief history: On May 14, 1948, the Jewish People's Council declared the establishment of the State of Israel, and the text of the communication of the evening of 14 May from the Provisional Government to President Truman was as follows:
MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to notify you that the state of Israel has been proclaimed as an independent republic within frontiers approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution of November 29, 1947, and that a provisional government has been charged to assume the rights and duties of government for preserving law and order within the boundaries of Israel, for defending the state against external aggression, and for discharging the obligations of Israel to the other nations of the world in accordance with international law. The Act of Independence will become effective at one minute after six o'clock on the evening of 14 May 1948, Washington time. With full knowledge of the deep bond of sympathy which has existed and has been strengthened over the past thirty years between the Government of the United States and the Jewish people of Palestine, I have been authorized by the provisional government of the new state to tender this message and to express the hope that your government will recognize and will welcome Israel into the community of nations. Very respectfully yours, ELIAHU EPSTEIN Agent, Provisional Government of Israel
First Arab Invasion: The Arab League members Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq refused to accept the UN partition plan and proclaimed the right of self-determination for the Arabs across the whole of Palestine. The Arab states marched their forces into what had, until the previous day, been the British Mandate for Palestine. The new state of Israel had an organized and efficient army, and it numbered around 30,000 men. In addition, each Israeli settlement was protected by well-trained guards.
The Arab forces were of varying quality, but Arab states had heavy military equipment at their disposal. Iraq sent two air squadrons, an armored battalion and 10,000 men; Egypt sent two air squadrons and about 7,500 men, including some independent units; Syria contributed a tank battalion, an air squadron and 5,000 men; Lebanon sent 2,500 men and some artillery. The Palestinian Arabs had formed "Army of Salvation" numbering 4,000. The invading Arab armies had initially been successful but the Israelis soon recovered from the initial shock of being invaded on all sides. On May 29, 1948, the British initiated United Nations Security Council Resolution 50 and declared an arms embargo on the region. Czechoslovakia violated the resolution supplying the Jewish state with critical military hardware to match the (mainly British) heavy equipment and planes already owned by the invading Arab states. On May 20, the UN Security Council appointed Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden to act as a mediator. On June 11, a month-long UN truce was put into effect. Both sides wanted the opportunity to recover and reorganize.
Six Day War: The Six-Day War, also known as the June Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt (known at the time as the United Arab Republic), Jordan, and Syria. After a period of high tension between Israel and its neighbors, the war began on June 5 with Israel launching surprise bombing raids against Egyptian air-fields. Within six days, Israel had won a decisive land war. Israeli forces had taken control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The political importance of the 1967 War was immense; Israel demonstrated that it was able, and willing to initiate strategic strikes that could change the regional balance. Egypt and Syria learned tactical lessons and would launch an attack in 1973 in an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim their lost territory.
Causes for Conflict:
Jewish, Muslim and Christian groups invoke religious arguments for their uncompromising positions. Contemporary history of the Arab–Israeli conflict which started in the year 1948 is very much affected by Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious beliefs and their interpretations of the idea of the chosen people in their policies with regard to the "Promised Land" and the "Chosen City" of Jerusalem.
On October 26, 2005, IRIB News, an English-language subsidiary of the state-controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), filed a story on Ahmadinejad's speech to the "World Without Zionism" conference in Tehran, entitled: Ahmadinejad: Israel must be wiped off the map.
The day after Ahmadinejad's remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called for Iran to be expelled from the United Nations and Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. In that meeting, all fifteen members condemned Ahmadinejad's remarks.
On May 8, 2006, Shimon Peres told Reuters that "the president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map," Army Radio reported.
In early June 2008, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz expressed frustration with the perceived ineffectiveness of sanctions aimed at discouraging Iran from uranium enrichment. Israel believes the enrichment may be used to aid an alleged nuclear weapons program.
Some Israeli officials publicly characterize Iran's nuclear program as an "existential threat" to Israel, and Israeli leaders assert that all options are kept open in dealing with Tehran.
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2008, Ahmadinejad stated that Zionists are criminals and murderers, are "acquisitive" and “deceitful,” and dominate global finance despite their “minuscule” number.
On July 18, 2012, a terrorist attack on a bus full of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria may have given Israel more than enough excuse to attack Iran.
Ahmadinejad had derided Israel on numerous occasions and had urged regional powers to cut ties with Israel and halt oil sales.
On August 18, 2012, Israel's existence is an "insult to all humanity," Iran's president said Friday in one of his sharpest attacks yet against the Jewish nation as Israel openly debates whether to attack Iran over its nuclear program.
On August 18, 2012, The Iranian president described the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were killed by German Nazis and their collaborators during World War II, as a "myth."
On August 25, 2012. The United Nations Security Council decided to establish a monitoring committee for the implementation of SC Resolution 2064(2012), the United Nations Emergency Response Committee.
Timeline:
30 August, 2012: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is has asked the conference for a th
resolution recognizing the right of developing countries to enrich uranium and develop nuclear power, regardless of limits set out in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
5 September, 2012: Iran deploys radars on Lebanon soil in the south which are part of th
Hezbollah region.
11 September, 2012: Israel discovers the radar point using its MK planes.
18 September, 2012: Iran threatens whoever touches the radars will suffer severe
th
th
consequences.
28 September, 2012: Iran threatens to hit Demona reactor in Israel
3 October, 2012: Hezbollah supports Iran in its threats against Israel.
8 October, 2012: A senior Israeli general to a informed a United Nations source that now it
th
th
th
appears that Israel has given up on the idea of a ground assault to remove the many rocket and missile launchers in Lebanon, and about the alternative is the use of FAE (fuel air explosive)
technology weapons and neutron bombs (a type of nuclear weapon that produces a higher short term radiological output and less blast output than normal nuclear weapons).
17 October, 2012: Talks between Iran and nuclear N5 have failed.
1 November, 2012: Sanctions on Iran’s oil exports by USA.
15 November, 2012: In retaliation, Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz
23 November, 2012: Some 35% of the world's seaborne oil shipments pass through the Strait of
th
st
th
rd
Hormuz on its southern coast. If Iran tries to block this channel, the oil price would probably rocket, dealing a grave blow to the world economy.
28 November, 2012: The striking arm of the Israeli air force consists of 125 F-15I and F-16I jets. A th
war against Iran would require most - perhaps all - of these aircraft to hit targets between 900 and 1,200 miles from their home base.
1 December, 2012: With reports of probable attack by Israel on nuclear installations of Iran, the st
battle for psychological ascendancy between the Iran-Syria alliance and Israel has escalated sharply.
7 December, 2012: The Israeli forces are reported to be seen in the deserts of Iraq, giving rise to th
the suspicion of making foundation for themselves for any likely ground attacks on Iran. But such possibility is quite remote as no sovereign country has a right to attack on another sovereign country.
11 December, 2012: While supporting Iran, Hezbollah's Secretary General Mr. Hassan Nasrallah th
threatened bluntly to retaliate by massive missile strikes deep inside Israel in case it attacked on Iran.
14 December, 2012: Iran test fires an upgraded version of its conventional medium-range st
Shahab-3 missile, and Revolutionary Guards Chief Yadollah Javani said at the weekend that all Israeli military and nuclear sites are now within range.
18 December, 2012: In retaliation Israel test fired Jericho 3. st
The United Nations Emergency Response Committee has been convened on the 19 of th
December 2012, for its first session after acquiring adequate information from each of the member states of the United Nations as mandated by the Security Council resolution 2064(2012). The Secretary General of the United Nations appealed to the International Community to bring an end to the ever escalating tensions in the middle East, and more so between these two nations Iran and Israel. Can we, the UN, prevent the further escalation?
References
www.un.org
https://www.cia.gov/
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.html www.cbitmun.com