The Middle East is many things to many people. It is where stories have come from and where stories evolve. Westerners have come to know the Middle East through the Arab-Israeli Wars, the Iran-Iraq War, and the Persian Gulf Wars. At the root it is the homeland of the world's three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Such wars are indicative of the spiritual depth, the economic resources, and the political stakes serving as bedrock for this region. Defining boundaries becomes even more complex as borders and loyalties change over time--and cultures are destroyed. Chris Hedges challenges, "War is a force that gives us meaning." Historically, and for now, the Middle East includes the lands of Gaza, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories as shown here during trips taken with Physicians For Peace.