Politician in Syria from early 1966 to late 1970. Includes brief biography.

City in Morocco with 150,000 inhabitants. Economic base centers around tourism, sardine fishing and agriculture. Includes history.

Sixth Imam in the Twelver and Isma'ili traditions of Shi'i Islam. Influential teacher, theologian and jurist. Taught Abu Hanifa and Malik ibn Anas who were instrumental in the development of Sunni Islam. (699- 765 CE).

City in Israel with about 80,000 inhabitants, situated on the Mediterranean Sea. Has outstanding examples of Arabic urban architecture. Includes brief history.

City in Saudi Arabia with over 2.9 million inhabitants, situated on the Red Sea. Economy focuses on livestock imports, iron and steel plants, oil refineries, and production of bricks, furniture and tiles.

Town in Tunisia with about 7,000 inhabitants. Famous for its colosseum. Includes brief history.

Island in Tunisia with 110,000 inhabitants. Economy is based upon the production of dates, figs and olives, olive oil, fishing, and small industries which make pottery, jewelry and clothes. Includes history.

City in Palestine with about 25,000 inhabitants. Economical base focuses on agriculture, production of dates, bananas and citrus fruits. Includes history of one of the oldest settlements in the world, dating back to 9000 BCE.

Capital of Israel, divided into an old city, a new city and satellite towns on all sides. Features its religious importance, economy, culture and history. Includes slide show and map.

Offers different versions of who he was, and what he represented. In Christianity, a central religious person, either seen as God in human body or as son of God born by a woman. In Islam and Baha'i, one of the central prophets, as well as miracle worker (always called Isa). Baha'i: Same view as Islam.

Established by rabbi Hillel in the 4th century CE. Consists of 354 days a year, but has a leap month seven times every nineteen years. Includes example.

Arabic term defined as a battle, struggle, or holy war for the religion. The greater jihad is the spiritual struggle of each man, against vice, passion and ignorance. A lesser jihad is simplified to cover holy war against infidels and infidel countries, aiming at spreading Islam.

Arabic term for invisible beings, that constitute a world almost parallel to the human, according to Islam. The belief in jinns is orthodox, as they are mentioned several times in the Holy Koran.

British military leader serving first the Iraqi government, then the rulers of Transjordan and later Jordan. (1897-1986). [ Move - Reference/Encyclopedias/Subject_Encyclopedias/Encyclopaedia_of_the_Orient/G ]

Part of the New Testament but differs from the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke by having clear gnostic elements. Includes examples of the differences.

Features politics, history, economy, health and education, religions and its people.

Flows through Israel, Palestine and Jordan and is 320 km long. The Sea of Galilee is part of the system, as well as the Yarmuk River of Syria.

Third largest religion in Middle East/ North Africa with almost five million adherents. Includes beliefs, rituals, prohibitions and regulations, organization, holy places and history.

King of Numidia (113- 104 BCE). Resisted the spread of the Roman Empire and engaged in warfare for a few years. Betrayed by his father-in-law, Bocchus, he was captured, thrown into prison and died six days later from the cold and starvation.