Q: After World War I the British tried to control the Middle East. There were Muslim, Christian and Jewish inhabitants. What was the degree of peace or violence between these groups?
—Roy Graham, Sandy Springs
A: There were outbreaks of violence between the end of World War I and the start of World War II. Britain was given control over Palestine after World War I, and the Zionism movement led to an increase of Jews moving to the area, causing conflict between them and Arabs.
Several riots and attacks led to deaths on both sides in 1920 and ’21, and in 1929, the British used troops to control violence that led to hundreds of deaths. Britain also had to use force to end the Arab revolt of 1936-39, in which thousands of Arabs and an unknown number of Jews were killed.
Q: NBC News journalist Richard Engel is always reporting from the most dangerous places in the world. Does he have family here? Has he ever been wounded?
—Betty Stephens, Monroe
A: Engel, NBC's Chief Foreign Correspondent, has never been seriously wounded while reporting from the Middle East for nearly 20 years, but he and his crew were kidnapped and held hostage for five days in December 2012. Engel, his cameraman and two others were captured by Syrian government militia and faced death threats, but were released unharmed.
Engel, 40, is divorced and has family living in the United States. “I think (my parents) would be shocked, and a little saddened, if I suddenly announced that I was packing it all in and going to dental school,” Engel told Stanford Magazine.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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