Meaning of NEAR EAST

WordNet Dictionary
	Definition:		[n]  the area around the eastern Mediterranean; from Turkey to North Africa and eastward to Iran; the site of such ancient civilizations as Phoenicia and Babylon and Egypt and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity and Islam; "the Middle East is the cradle of Western civilization"
	Websites:
	Synonyms:		Middle East
	See Also:		Al-Iraq, Arab Republic of Egypt, Arab-Israeli War, Egypt, Fertile Crescent, geographic area, geographic region, geographical area, geographical region, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Irak, Iran, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Koweit, Kuwait, Lebanese Republic, Lebanon, Operation Desert Storm, Persia, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Sion, Six Day War, State of Israel, State of Kuwait, Syria, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Republic, Yisrael, Yom Kippur War, Zion
Thesaurus Terms
	Related Terms:		Africa, America, Antipodes, Asia, Asia Major, Asia Minor, Australasia, continent, down under, East, Eastern Hemisphere, eastland, Eurasia, Europe, Far East, landmass, Levant, Middle East, New World, Occident, Oceania, Old World, Orient, the old country, West, Western Hemisphere