Abstract. The Middle East has for centuries played an exceptionally important role in world politics due to its geographic and strategic position. In the XXth century the value of this area was exacerbated by the advent of oil. Yet another major development was the emergence of Israel followed by one of the most dangerous conflicts of our epoch. Gradually, the Middle East became the area of a large scale military/ political battle between the two camps in the global confrontation. Some of the most intensive conflicts of the Cold War were played out in the Middle East. Today, the situation has radically changed; the region, however, remains the principal source of tension in the world due to the upsurge of radical Islamism.