Assignment ME

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 3

Introduction:

The Third Arab Israeli War was a brief conflict that erupted from June 5–10, 1967 and
was known as the Six-Day War. The Golan Heights, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, Sinai
Peninsula, and Gaza Strip were all taken by Israel during its victorious victory; as a result, the
status of these regions became a key source of controversy in the Arab Israeli conflict. Following
its 'shock and awe' attacks last week, Israel has pledged to annihilate Hamas. As the conflict
moved into a new phase, Israel cut off Gaza's water and power supplies. In Israel and Gaza, more
than 3,600 people have lost their lives, and there's a good chance that number will rise in the
days ahead.

The vicious assaults emanating from Gaza have refocused attention on the 1967 six-day conflict
between Israel and the Arab world. The seismic events of the six-day war that radically changed
the Middle East are the source of the two intifadas (Palestinian uprisings), the rise of Hamas, the
ceaseless rocket strikes from Gaza, and Israel's harsh response.

Background of War:
Before the war began, there had been a rise in attacks on Israel by young Palestinian guerrilla
organizations with bases in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, which resulted in expensive Israeli
retaliation. 18 people were killed and 54 injured in an Israeli raid on the Jordanian West Bank
town of Al-Samūſ in November 1966. Six Syrian MiG fighter jets were shot down by the Israeli
Air Force in April 1967 during an air combat with Syria. Furthermore, despite being untrue,
Soviet intelligence reports from May suggested that Israel was organizing a campaign against
Syria, which increased tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors. In the past, President
Gamal Abdel Nasser faced harsh criticism for not supporting Syria and Jordan in their fight
against Israel. He was also accused of concealing his activities behind the United Nations
Emergency Force (UNEF), which was positioned near Egypt's border with Israel in the Sinai.
But now, on May 14, 1967, he mobilized Egyptian forces in the Sinai; on May 18, he formally
asked that the UNEF stationed there be removed; and on May 22, he closed the Gulf of Aqaba to
Israeli shipping, effectively blocking the port city of Elat in southern Israel. All these actions
demonstrated his clear support for Syria. Jordan's King Hussein came in Cairo on May 30 to sign
a mutual defense treaty with Egypt, putting Jordanian forces under Egyptian leadership. Iraq
soon followed suit.

Main Events:
Early on June 5, in reaction to what appeared to be the mobilization of its Arab neighbors, Israel
launched a surprise preemptive air strike that destroyed over 90% of Egypt's air force on the
tarmac. The Syrian air force was rendered inoperable by a comparable air strike. The Egyptian
army was left open to attack without aerial cover. The Israelis won a resounding success on the
ground in just three days, taking control of the Sinai Peninsula, including the Gaza Strip, and the
east bank of the Suez Canal. On June 5, another front opened as Jordanian soldiers started
bombarding West Jerusalem despite Israel's admonition to King Hussein to keep Jordan out of
the conflict. However, they were met with a devastating Israeli counterattack. Israeli forces
expelled Jordanian forces from much of the West Bank and East Jerusalem on June 7. Films and
pictures showing Israeli forces capturing Jerusalem's Old City have turned out to be among the
most memorable pictures from the conflict. On June 7, the UN Security Council demanded a
cease-fire, which Israel and Jordan swiftly complied with. Egypt agreed the next day. But Syria
stayed firm, bombarding Israeli communities in the north. Israel attacked the fortified Golan
Heights on June 9 and, following a day of fierce fighting, took it from Syrian soldiers. On June
10, Syria agreed to the cease-fire.

Repercussions and Legacy of War:


The battle had terrible consequences for the Arab countries. More than 11,000 people
died in Egypt, 6,000 in Jordan and 1,000 in Syria, while Israel suffered only 700 casualties. The
Arab army also lost a great deal of equipment and weapons. Both the Arab public and the
political elite were discouraged by how unfairly they were defeated. On June 9, Nasser
announced his resignation, but he soon gave in to large-scale protests demanding that he stay in
power. There was exhilaration in Israel, which had demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt
that it was the leading military force in the region. Since the Six-Day War resulted in hundreds of
thousands of refugees and more than a million Palestinians living in the occupied territories
under Israeli administration, it also signaled the beginning of a new phase in the conflict between
Israel and the Palestinians. A few months after the conflict, in November, the UN enacted
Resolution 242, which demanded that Israel give up the lands it had taken during the conflict in
exchange for an enduring peace. The diplomatic efforts between Israel and its neighbors, such as
the Camp David Accords with Egypt and the pursuit of a two-state solution with the Palestinians,
were based on the resolution.

Causes of War:
- Border disputes between Israel and Syria led to a series of skirmishes.
- Egypt and Syria signed a defense pact, and Egypt expelled UN peacekeepers from the
Sinai Peninsula.

- Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping.

- Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt on June 5, 1967.

Consequences of War:
- Israel tripled in size, gaining control of the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and
Golan Heights.
- The war led to a surge in national pride in Israel, but also increased tensions with Arab
states.

- The war led to the displacement of over one million Palestinian Arabs.

- The war marked a turning point in the Arab Israeli conflict, leading to ongoing political
turmoil and violence.

In summary, the Six-Day War was a brief but significant conflict that had far-reaching
consequences for the Middle East. It marked a turning point in the Arab Israeli conflict, led to
the occupation of Palestinian territories, and contributed to ongoing tensions and violence in the
region.

You might also like