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The Six-Day conflict was a short conflict that took place between June 5 and June 10, 1967. It was the third war between Israel and Arab countries. The Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, and Golan Heights were all taken by Israel as part of its victorious triumph. The status of these lands thereafter became a key issue of contention in the war between Israel and the Arab world.
A brief history and the escalation
Before the conflict began, there had been an upsurge in the number of assaults that were carried out against Israel by Palestinian guerrilla organizations that were still in their infancy and were located in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. These attacks resulted in expensive Israeli retaliations. An Israeli raid on the town of Al-Samūʿ, located in the Jordanian West Bank, occurred in November 1966, resulting in the death of 18 individuals and the injury of 54 others. Additionally, in April 1967, the Israeli Air Force engaged in an aerial conflict with Syria, resulting in the destruction of six Syrian MiG fighter planes. Furthermore, in May, reports from Soviet intelligence claimed that Israel was preparing a war against Syria. Despite the fact that these allegations were false, they contributed to an increase in tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Wars between Israel and the Arabs
Prior to this, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser had been subjected to severe criticism for his inability to provide assistance to Syria and Jordan in their fight against Israel. Additionally, he had been accused of concealing himself behind the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) that was stationed at Egypt’s border with Israel in the Sinai. Now, however, he took steps to unequivocally demonstrate his support for Syria. On May 14, 1967, Nasser mobilized Egyptian forces in the Sinai; on May 18, he formally requested the removal of the United Nations Economic and Social Fund stationed there; and on May 22, he closed the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping, thereby establishing an effective blockade of the port city of Elat, which is located in southern Israel. On the 30th of May, King Hussein of Jordan traveled in Cairo to sign a mutual defense contract with Egypt. This deal placed Jordanian troops under the direction of Egypt. Shortly after this, Iraq also joined the alliance.
The most important events of the conflict
Beginning early on the morning of June 5, Israel launched a rapid preemptive air assault in response to what seemed to be the mobilization of its Arab neighbors. This attack resulted in the destruction of more than ninety percent of Egypt’s air force that was stationed on the runway. Syria’s air force was rendered ineffective as a result of a comparable air strike. Because they did not have any support from the air, the Egyptian army was more susceptible to being attacked. Within a span of three days, the Israelis were able to win a resounding success on the ground, seizing control of the Gaza Strip as well as the whole of the Sinai Peninsula, all the way up to the east bank of the Suez Canal.
Jordanian soldiers started firing West Jerusalem on June 5, rejecting Israel’s admonition to King Hussein to keep Jordan out of the combat. However, they were met by a devastating Israeli counterattack, which resulted in the opening of an eastern front. Israel’s military forces were successful in driving Jordanian troops out of East Jerusalem and the majority of the West Bank on June 7. It has become clear that the photographs and videos that depict Israeli forces seizing control of the Old City of Jerusalem are among the most representative images of the conflict.
Golan Heights, the site of the Six-Day War
On June 10, 1967, Israeli tanks were seen making their way forward on the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War, which was fought between Israeli and Arab troops.
Beginning on June 7, the United Nations Security Council issued a demand for a cease-fire, which was promptly accepted by both Israel and Jordan. It was the next day when Egypt accepted. However, Syria would not give up and continued to shell communities located in the northern region of Israel. An attack on the fortified Golan Heights was begun by Israel on June 9, and after a day of intense battle, Israel was able to take control of the territory from Syrian troops. On June 10th, Syria gave its approval to the cease-fire.
The most important events of the conflict
Losses sustained by Arab nations as a result of the battle were catastrophic. The number of casualties sustained by Egypt was more than 11,000, while Jordan and Syria suffered 6,000 and 1,000 each, while Israel suffered just 700 casualties. In addition, the armaments and equipment of the Arab army were severely damaged or destroyed. The Arab population as well as the political elite found themselves disillusioned as a result of the lopsided nature of the loss. On June 9, Nasser made the announcement that he would be resigning from his position, but he immediately gave in to widespread protests that demanded he take his place in government. The Israeli government, which had shown without a reasonable doubt that it was the most powerful military force in the area, was filled with elation.
Additionally, the Six-Day War marked the beginning of a new chapter in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. This is due to the fact that the fight resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and brought more than one million Palestinians to the occupied regions that now fall under Israeli control. In November, some months after the war, the United Nations enacted Resolution 242, which demanded that Israel withdraw from the lands it had gained during the war in return for a peace that would persist for an extended period of time. The Camp David Accords with Egypt and the quest for a two-state solution with the Palestinians were both direct results of this decision, which served as the foundation for diplomatic efforts between Israel and its neighbors.
