The domestic issues include nationalism, democratization, human rights, and political succession to

leadership.

• Nationalism: Nationalism plays a major part in Middle Eastern politics. The term itself refers to a sense of collective identity built upon such things as history, language, religion, geography, culture, and other factors that bring people into a common identity as a community.

• Arab nationalism spans the 22 nations where Arabic is the majority language. Formed a common identity through language. Inspired Ba’athist movement to resist western influence. Arab nationalism or identity united Arabs through WWII and up to the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War in 1967 where it became less attractive after the Arab defeat. The alternative of religious adherence as an answer to Arab problems began to grow after the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict.
• Jewish Nationalism. Judaism is associated with the "Promised Land" since the time when Biblical tradition holds that the patriarch Abraham was ordered by God to take his family from Ur to what is now approximately Palestine. Such nationalism manifested itself in the very decision to create Israel as a theocracy: a legal sovereign state governed by principles of the Torah.

• Democratization: though having a constitution a country does not practice democracy necessarily because there is no accountability for the actions of the regime in power as example, Iraq.
• Democratic Transformation, Autocratic states may transform for many reasons, among them the loss of legitimacy of the regime, the impact of successful democratization elsewhere (communist states), or the effort of a ruling regime to try to stave off opposition by co-opting it through democratic processes (South Africa).
• Democracy and Civil Society, The term "civil society" refers here to organizations and societies that exist as alternatives to the state. People turn to such groups because they believe that the state either cannot or will not respond to their needs effectively. They include professional, educational, and religious organizations, alternative political movements, and even institutionalized private meetings. They exist for regimes that control information and for services that can not or not provided by the state.
• Democracy in the Middle East, Tribal traditions and the role of the majlis, which connects the tribe member to the tribal leader (elders) who in turn has access to the national leader, continue today. Skepticism for former colonial rulers and their democracy, which was, preached but not necessarily practiced leading to human rights abuses and illegitimate rule. Economic development is also a factor in democratic evolution. Many cultures are not ready for democracy and the price may be too high as example Algeria and FIS movement. It may take many years for democratic intuitions and ideas to develop. Another factor is the growth of Islamist movement and suppression of which may lead to revolution rather than a somewhat democratic Islamic nation.

• Human Rights:
• Human rights violation issues are of global interest not solely western interest.
• Many regimes block "political participation" on the grounds of "state security" but in many cases it is a case of "regime security".
• Religion is another challenge to human rights. In Islamic beliefs God owns the rights and an individual rights are second to God and others.
• Issues of human rights exist within sovereign states as well as with occupied territories. Application of existing human rights principles are not applied, or applied selectively in occupied areas, Israel-Palestinian is a prime example.
• Turkey, Iraq and Iran have persecuted minority groups such as the Kurds that identify as a people by language and community and aspire to a Kurdish homeland.
• The status and role for women in the Middle East is shaped by the intersection of both religion and tradition. Islam, Christianity and Judaism define particular place for women in respect to men. In the Middle East woman’s traditional role and cultural roles such as in Iran does allow single woman to be seen with a male. This could lead to punishment.

• Political Succession:
• In Israel the election law of 1996 has numerous provisions for ending the Prime Minister’s term short of scheduled elections, including a petition for dismissal and a provision to call early elections.
• In authoritarian regimes, though, political transition may bring unpredictability and chaos such as in Iraq, Syria and Algeria with military coups.
• Monarchies also have succession plans, generally involving naming a crown prince to take the place of the crown upon death or disability such as in Jordan.
• The head of state is democratically elected only in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. While other nations hold regularly scheduled elections for parliament (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Kuwait, for example) most heads of state are either monarchs or presidents appointed by a party elite (Iraq’s Ba’athist Party appointed Saddam Hussein as president-for-life, for example).

The inter-state issues are war, peace and security, weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism.

• War, Peace and Security:

• Israeli-Egyptian peace accord of 1979 created dissension within Arab community and resulted in Sadat’s death.
• Oslo and Madrid, Spain talks lead to UN Security Council resolution 242 and 338. Resolutions called for a cease-fire, beginning of peace talks and demilitarization zones. Discussions on resolutions differed between Israel, Palestinians and Israel’s Arab neighbors.
• Israel and Jordan signed a bilateral agreement in September 1994 known as the Israeli-Jordanian Common Agenda. This agreement resulted in economic cooperation and joint military discussions with a hot line phone link between countries. Disagreement continued on water rights and usage and Egypt’s objections to Israel’s nuclear weapons development.
• Peace Between Israel the Palestinians. A series of agreements between 1993 – 1994 lead to renouncement of terrorism by the PLO, the creation of the Palestinian Authority and transfer of Gaza and control of the West Bank to the PA.
• Peace between Israel and Syria and Lebanon has stalled. No progress has been made since 1996 when Israel opened discussion on return of the Golan Heights.

• Weapons of Mass Destruction:
• While Israel has never officially acknowledged having nuclear weapons, there is considerable evidence that an Israeli nuclear capability existed at least since the 1967 war.
• Iraq’s nuclear weapons development program described how Iraqi nuclear weapons were weeks away from development when Iraq invaded Kuwait.
• Iran began research on nuclear materials before the ouster of Shah Pahlavi in 1979. In 1995 it announced it would continue work in development of a nuclear reactor.
• Egypt in its 1967 war with Yemen used mustard gas and Iraq used chemical weapons against the Kurds.

• Terrorism:
• Terrorism is used for political assassinations, revenge as in the downing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie Scotland and economic disruption as when bombs explode in tourist areas.
• Terrorism centered in the Middle East grew considerably after the Arab defeat in the 1967 war. Deeply frustrated at the resulting humiliation, young Arabs in particular gravitated towards radical groups that promised revenge. With names like "Fatah," and "Black September," these groups increasing took to attacking civilian targets both inside and out of the Middle East.
• Frequency of attacks increased in 1990s with attacks in NYC, sub-Saharan Africa at American embassies. US retaliated with strikes against Sudan, a haven for Osama bin laden. The State Department singled out a number of nations as sponsors of terrorism, specifically Libya, Iran, Iraq, and the Sudan.
• In April 1998 all 22 members of the League of Arab States signed an anti-terrorism agreement in Cairo. The agreement also followed a statement by the ministers in attendance that Israel was "the main source of terrorism in the region."