Turn on the news. Most likely, one of the hot topics will be an update on an ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Throughout its history, the Middle East has been a land of conflict and violence. Although it is difficult to pinpoint the source of all these conflicts, it could be argued that because the Middle East, particularly Jerusalem, is an important location for three major world religions, this region is bound to harbor conflicts. strained relationships. However, to fully understand this region, it is necessary to understand the three religions that lay claim to the Middle East. These religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Although at first glance these three religions seem entirely independent, they are actually closely related and very similar. As different as the practices and beliefs of Jews, Christians, and Muslims may seem, these three religions are similar because they all began in the same region and were built on similar beliefs. Since the Middle East is the birthplace of three major, related world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, these religions share similarities that unite them, such as monotheism, prophets, and teachings, similarities that are very important in Middle East politics today. arose from the beliefs of the ancient Hebrew people. “The Hebrews believed that God had made a covenant, or binding agreement, with Moses. Under this agreement, the Hebrews accepted God as sovereign of heaven and earth. In return, God made the Hebrews the chosen people on Earth (Ahmad 563). This alliance reinforced the monotheism of the Hebrews; they fully accepted the idea that there was only one God (564). "The Hebrews recorded their historical beginnings as well as the moral... middle of paper ...... ps the most important commonality between these three religions is the ethical worldview that they all profess. These moral standards could help unite people of these religions; this unity could also help ease certain tensions in the Middle East. “Muslims believe that Allah is the same God as the God of the Jews and Christians (Ahmad 571).” The similarities between these three religions that worship the same God have origins in the Middle East, commonalities in prophets and teachings, and could very well be a vital part of the solution to easing some of the tensions in the Middle East. Iftikhar. World cultures: a global mosaic. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2004. Blackadar, Andy, ed. “Part I: The Middle East in the World”. The Middle East in Transition: Questions for American Policy (2013): 2-18. Print.