The Lebanese Civil War was a sectarian conflict that involved several different factions. It was a very complicated situation that had multiple regional conflicts. The Taif Agreement (1990) reordered the power structure in Lebanese government so that the Council of Ministers took control of the overall flow of government away from the president. The prime minister and speaker of parliament were also empowered by the Taif Agreement.  

To ensure the end of the civil war, the Taif Agreement expanded the powers of the national government. Militias were forced to relinquish weapons, and other measures were taken to limit the potential for sectarian violence.

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa gave migrant workers more rights in 2006—most importantly the right to move from employer to employer with more freedom. This was a landmark in Bahrain's history of worker's rights, and also in much of the Persian Gulf region.  

There is a constant flow of populations into the Gulf region from Northeastern Africa, India, Pakistan, and beyond. Migrant workers account for a massive amount of the labor forces in several Gulf countries. They help build and maintain many of the developing and metropolitan areas of the Middle East.

A theocracy is a government that is guided by religion, where the highest ranking officials are considered to be connected to the deity they worship. The civil law is based on religious code. The reverse concept of this is the separation of church and state. 

Comparing two governments is a good way to understand one or both better. In a theocratic government, the highest officials are chosen out of a specialized group of religious people or leaders supported by religious people while a democratic government allows for broader participation in public office among the citizenry.

Sunnism is the most widely practiced denomination of Islam. The second most practiced form of Islam is Shi'ism. Sunnis make up a massive amount of the Islamic community percentage-wise, but that does not speak to the influence of each denomination.  

Iran is a country that practices Shia Islam as a national religion, which shows the political influence of not just the smaller denominations, but the Islamic faith as a whole.

Hamas is the Palestinian organization that arose in he late 1980s, and became labeled an extreme group by the 1990s.  

The other groups listed here are also deemed extreme, rebels, or terrorists by much of the international community.  No other choice given originated in Palestine with the intention of liberating Palestine besides Hamas.

Libya has had a tumultuous political situation over the last several years after Muammar Gaddafi's regime fell and he was assassinated. The country is showing signs of moving past his massive impact on all sectors of society, though it is nearly impossible to discuss Libya's recent history without mentioning Gaddafi. He was at times a brutal dictator and was always an enigmatic representative of Libya to the world for a long time.

Transnationalism is the key term that describes boundaries becoming irrelevant due to people's connections across those boundaries.

In other words, some countries' borders don't define the citizens within them perfectly.  

In the Middle East, there are many nomadic groups as well as a massive flow of migrant workers throughout multiple countries. Some languages cross borders and unite peoples that way; other times, a shared history from before the borders were drawn can unite people. Regions and transnationalism play a huge role in Middle Eastern culture and politics, as does statehood and national pride.

The Arab League Summit had all 22 members agree on the Arab proposal of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. In a second extension of diplomacy, the Arab League also extended a peace offering between the Arab community and Israel.

A multitude of complications prevented Israel and Palestine from reaching the two-state solution at that time, and the issue continues in the region.

A series of conflicts with Israel and internal turmoil caused Lebanon to give up a part of its territory to the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) to conduct military operations, which created divisions along religious and political lines throughout the region.

Within six years, Lebanon had collapsed into total civil war that lasted for fifteen years. Hezbollah is in power in the area that was once occupied by the PLO decades ago.

There are two components to the executive branch, which makes Iran's system semi-presidential. The executive branch includes the Supreme Leader and President.  

Islam is deeply important to Iran's society, government, and laws. The Supreme Leader is a religious and political leader, and is an expert in religion. His political power reigns above all branches in government. At any time, he can oust the president from office.