What has made the Middle East important?

I think religion of all things makes the Middle East the most important.  Its the birthplace of all Abrahamic Faiths.  Today's Western Dominated Governments are ofcourse after Oil to fuel their industrial ambitions, but that doesn't necessarily make the region important for people.

There are 1.5 Billion Muslims, Billions of Christians, and Millions of Jews who call this area the cradle of their civilizations and spiritual homes.  Jews and Muslims fight for a piece of this land, and Christians believe this is where Jesus will return. 

When I think of the Middle East, I think of Cradle of the Abrahamic Faiths, not Oil.

Olive branch irony: A weeping Palestinian woman embraces the trunk of an olive tree that was destroyed by Jewish settlers in the West Bank village of Salem. The settlers, who claim the land is theirs by biblical birthright, cut down or uprooted hundreds of the trees on Palestinian farms, according to reports from residents and Israeli police.

well oil is politically important but not for the people,

its history is what made it important NOT oil.

The Middle East has a wide variety of cultures and religon, which I would love to say that it's the most important feature in the Middle East.

What has made the Middle East important?

Oil.

Well, Syria,Egypt and Lebanon still have some different resources other than oil,like agriculture, natural resources, mines,labor,markets etc..The aim of colonization was not just to find oil. But for Suez Canal, it was definitely for strategical purposes, as a shortcut connection from Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and the heart of the huge British Empire.Its control means the safety and control of other colonies in Asia,too, like India and it was the heart of English trade and economy too.

I agree.