Middle East is such an icky term, middle east of what?
Surely there's a better way?
Arab states doesn't include Lebanon and Israel, except in some cases, and Iran is more like central Asia.

@BigTittyBimbo

The old term used "in the West" before the c19th was "the Holy Land" and then specifically "the Levant" was used by all those victorian era people going on Grand Tours. #TheGrandTour

(I just name where I'm talking about.)