Though small, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays a crucial role in the affairs of the volatile Middle East. A moderate Arab country, Jordan borders not only Israel and the West Bank, but also Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. This strategic locationalong with the nuanced and forward-looking foreign policy of Jordans young ruler, King Abdullah IIhas made Jordan an island of calm in the often-turbulent Middle East. Political stability and Jordans highly educated workforce have made it one of the most prosperous Arab states. In recent years Jordans proximity to Syria and Iraq, two countries devastated by civil war, has increased regional tension. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an Islamist rebel group fighting in those countries, has attempted to attract young Jordanians to its cause. Jordan has responded to retaliation by joining the United States and other nations in launching airstrikes against ISIL strongholds. Each title in this series contains color photos, maps, timelines and graphics that will help student readers put events into historical and present day perspective as well as back matter including: an index, further reading lists for books and internet resources, and a series glossary. Mason Crests editorial team has placed Key Icons to Look for throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions.
