Friday, August 22, 2025

1967 Six-Day War 8-22-25

The Six-Day War, also known as the June War or Arab-Israeli War, was a brief but significant military conflict fought between June 5 and June 10, 1967. It pitted Israel against a coalition of Arab states, including Egypt (then known as the United Arab Republic), Jordan, and Syria, with limited support from Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria.  

Here's a summary of the war:

Causes and escalation

·       Longstanding tensions: The conflict was rooted in the broader Arab-Israeli dispute, stemming from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the displacement of Palestinians.

·       Border skirmishes: Syria's support of Palestinian guerrilla attacks across the border escalated hostilities, culminating in an April 1967 air battle between Israel and Syria where six Syrian fighter jets were shot down.

·       Misinformation and mobilization: False Soviet intelligence reports suggesting an imminent Israeli invasion of Syria prompted Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser to mobilize troops in the Sinai Peninsula and expel UN peacekeepers stationed there.

·       Straits of Tiran blockade: Egypt's subsequent closure of the Straits of Tiran, vital for Israeli shipping, was deemed an act of war by Israel, making conflict almost inevitable.

·       Arab Alliance: Jordan, under King Hussein, joined the Egyptian-Syrian defense pact, placing its forces under Egyptian command. 

Key events

·       Preemptive Israeli Strike (June 5): Israel launched a surprise air assault, Operation Focus, crippling the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian air forces on the ground. This swift victory in the skies effectively guaranteed Israel's military dominance for the remainder of the war.

·       Ground Offensives:

o   Sinai Peninsula & Gaza Strip (against Egypt): Israeli tanks and infantry rapidly advanced into the Sinai and Gaza, encountering initial resistance but ultimately routing the Egyptian army, according to History.com.

o   West Bank & East Jerusalem (against Jordan): Jordanian forces initiated shelling of West Jerusalem, leading to a decisive Israeli counterattack that resulted in the capture of East Jerusalem and most of the West Bank.

o   Golan Heights (against Syria): Following days of Syrian shelling, Israel launched an assault on the heavily fortified Golan Heights, securing it after intense fighting. 

Outcome and aftermath

·       Decisive Israeli victory: Within six days, Israel achieved overwhelming military success against the combined Arab forces.

·       Territorial Gains: Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip (from Egypt), the West Bank and East Jerusalem (from Jordan), and the Golan Heights (from Syria).

·       Casualties: Arab forces suffered significantly higher casualties (estimated at 20,000) compared to Israel (around 800).

·       UN Ceasefire and Resolution 242: A UN-brokered ceasefire ended the fighting on June 11. UN Security Council Resolution 242 was adopted in November 1967, calling for Israel's withdrawal from territories occupied in the conflict in exchange for recognition of Israel's right to exist and guarantees of lasting peace.

·       "Land for Peace" concept: This resolution laid the foundation for the "land for peace" principle, which shaped subsequent peace negotiations, including the Camp David Accords with Egypt.

·       Lingering Issues: The Six-Day War profoundly impacted the Middle East, intensifying the Palestinian refugee crisis, fueling Palestinian nationalism, and leaving the status of the occupied territories as a major point of contention, influencing regional politics and leading to further conflicts like the Yom Kippur War. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=israel+6+day+war+summary

In October 2023, Hamas led a coordinated attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip. This attack, launched on October 7, involved a barrage of rockets and infiltration by land, sea, and air. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=october+attack+on+israel+2023

Comments

The UN, over time, eroded the gains made by Israel in the Six-Day War and israel continued to restore the territory they won in the Six-Day War back to Arab control. This allowed  Palestine to continue their Terror Campaign against Israel.

The return of Gaza to Arab control prompted the October 7, 2023 Attack on Israel

The Arab Wars against Israel began in 1948 and never stopped. Arab countries would routinely empty out their prisons and insane asylums and bus them to the UN Refugee Camp in Palestine.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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