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Six-Day War (The 1967 War) It has been said that for Israel this war was a question of sheer survival; for the Arabs it was one of credibility. June 5 - June 10, 1967
Six-Day War (The 1967 War)
It has been said that for Israel this war was a question of sheer survival; for the Arabs it was one
of credibility.
June 5 - June 10, 1967
The war will result in Israel controlling the Golan Heights, Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai.
The main cause of the Six Day War was a dramatic increase in tension between
Israel and its Arab neighbors during the mid 1960s.
What caused this tension?
Causes/Origins of the Six Day War (War of 1967)
Water - Israel's policy of diverting water from the Jordan River down to the Negev Desert angered Arabs. - In response, Syria and Lebanon threatened to stem the flow of water into Lake Galilee.
- Syria attempted to divert water away from Israel but these sights were bombed by Israel in 1965 and 1966.
Lake TiberiasSea of GalilieLake KinneretLake of Gennesaret
Israel’s National Water Carrier
- Most of this activity came from the Golan Heights and bases in the West Bank.
Guerilla/Terrorist Activity- The Fedayeen, Fatah, and the PLO all increased their attacks against Israel in the 1960’s.
- In 1966 the Ba'ath party gained control of Syria.
Ba’ath Party in Syria
- Ba'ath was a very militant anti-Israel group.
- Due to accusations of hiding behind the UN, President Nasser of Egypt also took a more militant stance towards Israel.
- Heavily supported Fedayeen raids in Israel.
Nasser was “egged on” by Syria’s new government to take a more aggressive policy
towards Israel.
Nasser would kick out the UN from the Sinai and blockade Israeli shipping.
The Ba’ath Party is still in control of Syria today.
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar’s father was Syrian PM from 1971 -2000. He was also Minister of Defense during the 1967 war.
As Jordan’s King Hussein admitted before the United Nations General Assembly shortly after the war, "Today’s war is not a new war but part of the old war," which he said would continue until Arab demands were met.
“Taking over Sharm el Sheikh meant confrontation with Israel (and) also meant that we were ready to enter a general war with Israel. The battle will be a general one and our basic objective will be to destroy Israel” - Gamal Abdel Nasser speech to the General Council of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions - broadcast in Arabic by Cairo Radio’s Voice of the Arabs, Gamal Abdel Nasser, 19.35 GMT, 26th May 1967 (the speech made front page news in The Times May 27th) Full text here
“The existence of Israel is an error which must be rectified. This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear - to wipe Israel off the map” - President Aref of Iraq
Lots of tension building up between Israel and its neighbors in May 1967.
- Continued Syrian shelling into the DMZ results in Israel bombing Syria.
- USSR sends false information that Israel is preparing to attack Syria.- Egypt moves thousands of its troops to its border with Israel, tells UN to leave.- Egypt sends fighter planes over Dimona.
Nasser closes the Straights of Tiran. US President Johnson calls the action illegal and disastrous for peace.Johnson warns Israel not to attack first.
Six Arab countries deploy over 230,000 troops to Israel’s border. Jordan and Egypt
sign a mutual defense pact.
Nasser makes a statement “Our goal is clear, to wipe Israel off the map!”.
June 5th 1967. War begins. Israel attacks Egypt first and destroys most of its air force on the first day.
Why did Israel win?Arabs lost 15,000 men.
Israel lost less than 1,000.
Arabs had larger armies but were defenseless without an air force.
The Arabs had modern Soviet missile and weapons.Israel had French fighter planes and tanks and advanced US electronic equipment to intercept Arab communications.Israel’s army was highly skilled and well trained and many believed they were fighting for their nations survival.
It has been said that the world is still living the 7th day of the Six Day war.
Consequences of Six – Day War.
In Six Days, Israel had redrawn the map of the middle east.
The Arabs blamed their defeat on the USA, Britain and other European countries. They accused them of helping Israel during the war.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Libya agreed to pay Egypt and Jordan 100 Million dollars annually for their loss in the war.
The USSR decided to replace the weapons that Egypt and Syria had lost.
The Arab leaders, at a famous meeting called the Khartoum conference, declared No peace with Israel, No negotiations with Israel, No recognition of Israel.
The 3 No’s of Khartoum
http://www.economist.com/node/9225670
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