Glossary • 497West Bank: Area of Arab Palestine annexed by Jordan in 1948 and captured by
Israel in 1967, called "Judea and Samaria" by some Israelis; partly governed
by the Palestine Authority since 1996
Western Wall: Remnant in Jerusalem of the last Temple, revered by Jews, some¬
times incorrectly called the Wailing Wall
White Paper: 1939 British policy statement limiting Jewish immigration and land
purchase rights within the Palestine mandate, assailed by Zionists
White Revolution: Broad reform program proclaimed by Iran's shah in 1963
Wingate, Sir Reginald: British high commissioner in Egypt (1916-1919)
Yamit (ya-MEET): Israeli industrial town built in occupied Sinai and destroyed
before its restoration to Egypt in 1982
Yarmuk River (yar-MOOK): Tributary of Jordan River, site of Arab victory in 636
Yathrib (YATH-rib): Original name of Medina
Yazid I (ye-ZEED): Umayyad caliph (680-683)
Yemen (YEH-men): (1) Mountainous region of southwestern Arabia; (2) common
name for the Yemen Arab Republic or "North Yemen"; (3) the People's Demo¬
cratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) or "South Yemen"; (4) republic formed by the
union in 1990 of the Yemen Arab Republic and the PDRY
Yom Kippur War: See October War
Young Egypt: Egyptian nationalist movement in the 1930s
Young Turks: Group of Turkish nationalists who took control of the Ottoman
government in 1908, restored its constitution, and instituted westernizing re¬
forms; their main organization was the Committee of Union and Progress
Zaghlul, Sa'd (zagh-LOOL, SOD): Egyptian nationalist leader (d. 1927)
zakat (za-KAT): Fixed share of income or property that all Muslims must pay as
tax or charity for the welfare of the needy
Zayd: Fifth Shi'i imam, leader of an abortive revolt in the early eighth century,
and founder of the Zaydi branch of Shi'ism
Zayd ibn Haritha (ZAYD ibn-ha-REE-tha): Muhammad's adopted son
Zaydi Shi'i (ZAY-dee): Muslim who believes that Zayd bequeathed his umma
leadership to designated successors
Zaynab (ZAY-nub): Wife of Muhammad's adopted son, Zayd ibn Haritha, who
divorced her so that Muhammad might marry her
Zengi (ZENG-kee): Turkish general who founded a state in Mosul (1127-1146)
zindiq (zin-DEEK): (1) Muslim heretic; (2) (cap.) Manichaean or supporter of
any other pre-Islamic Persian religion
Zionism: (1) Nationalist ideology stressing solidarity of the Jewish people;
(2) movement to create or maintain a Jewish state, especially in Palestine/Israel
Zionist: Believer in Jewish nationalism
Ziya al-Din Tabatabai, Sayyid (zee-yahd-DEEN ta-ba-ta-BAW-ee): Civilian
leader of 1921 Persian nationalist revolt, which brought Reza to power
Ziyad ibn Abihi (zee-YAD ibn-a-BEE-hee): Arab governor of Iraq under Caliph
Mu'awiya