| A | B |
|---|
| Iraq | this country invaded Kuwait to start the Persian Gulf War |
| desalination | removal of salt from seawater |
| Arabic | the dominant language of the Middle East |
| Water | a scarce resource in the region |
| Israel | created by the United Nations in 1948 |
| Islam | dominant religion in the Middle East |
| oil | the abundant resource in the region |
| Tigris & Euphrates | two major rivers in the region |
| Mesopotamia | fertile land located between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers |
| OPEC | controls the pricing & distribution of oil |
| Judaism | major religion found in Israel |
