	The Middle East: Introduction and General Questions for Congressional Consideration

The Middle East, broadly defined as an area stretching from North Africa to Afghanistan, presents an array of challenges to U.S. foreign policy. Although the United States maintains strong relations with several key Arab and non-Arab states such as Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey, other state and non-state actors, such as Iran, the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Palestinian Sunni group Hamas, are aligned against U.S. interests. The United States has continued to advocate for economic and political reform to address these challenges. Members of the 112 th Congress may face any number of issues in or relating to the Middle East including the war in Afghanistan, terrorism, foreign assistance, democracy promotion, human rights concerns, and ongoing effects of the global financial crisis. U.S. Support for Lebanon17

Current U.S. policy toward Lebanon is to support the current unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, to limit Iranian and Syrian influence, and to contain the U.S. State Department-designated terrorist organization Hezbollah. Appendix A. Relevant Congressional Research Service Reports
Iran Sanctions
CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions , by [author name scrubbed]
CRS Report RL32048, Iran: U.S.
The Middle East, broadly defined as an area stretching from North Africa to Afghanistan, presents an array of challenges to U.S. foreign policy. Although the United States maintains strong relations with several key Arab and non-Arab states such as Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey, other state and non-state actors, such as Iran, the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Palestinian Sunni group Hamas, are aligned against U.S. interests. The United States and its regional and international allies continue to work to limit the influence of these actors while advocating for economic and political reform to address ongoing socioeconomic challenges and to promote democracy and a greater respect for human rights in the region.
Members of the 112th Congress may face any number of issues in or relating to the Middle East including the war in Afghanistan, terrorism, foreign assistance, democracy promotion, and ongoing effects of the global financial crisis. This report provides an overview of key issues, a summary of past congressional action on these issues, and options for congressional consideration during the 112th Congress.
Key issues include:
Iran Sanctions
Preserving Israel's Qualitative Military Edge
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
U.S. Aid to the Palestinians
Saudi Arabia: Arms Sales and Security Cooperation
Yemen
Iraq: Defining Post-2011 Relations
Turkey
U.S. Policy Toward Syria
U.S. Support for Lebanon
U.S. Democracy Promotion in Egypt
Islam, Al Qaeda, and U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy
This report also contains a section, Appendix A, with links to relevant Congressional Research Service reports, along with analyst contact information.