Israel and Palestine Part 2

The History of Israel and Palestine – Part 2: 1967 and 1973

We left Part One of the history of the Israeli Palestinian conflict with the events of the 1948 war, which broke out just one day after the creation of the state of Israel. This resulted in what Arabs call the Nakba, or "catastrophe," which saw approximately 750,000 people leave their homeland, many never to return.

Part Two of the story focuses on two major conflicts: the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973 both seismic moments in Middle Eastern, and indeed global, affairs.

The Six-Day War (1967)

If the Nakba is considered the worst day in modern Arab history, then the war of 1967 is arguably a very close second. Though it’s known as the "Six-Day War," in reality the conflict was effectively decided within the first four hours, permanently reshaping the map of the region—a map that has changed very little since. Let’s explore…

After the 1948 war, no peace agreements were reached, and tensions remained high. The West Bank came under Jordanian control, and the Gaza Strip was administered by Egypt—leaving Palestinians without a state. Cross-border raids by Palestinian militants and retaliatory actions by Israeli forces further fuelled the violence. Arab states refused to recognize Israel, and crises such as the 1956 Suez Crisis deepened regional animosities. This period laid the groundwork for the Six-Day War.

The Six-Day War, fought in June 1967, was triggered by escalating tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours, primarily Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Key causes included:

• Egypt’s closure of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping
• The mobilization of Arab forces along Israel’s borders
• The withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from the Sinai Peninsula at Egypt’s request
• Aggressive rhetoric from Arab leaders, particularly Egypt’s President Nasser
• An increase in Palestinian guerrilla attacks

Fearing an imminent attack, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypt, resulting in a rapid and decisive conflict.

Timeline of the Six-Day War:

1. June 5: Israel launched a surprise airstrike, destroying most of Egypt’s air force on the ground, securing air superiority. Ground forces advanced into the Sinai Peninsula.
2. June 6–7: Fighting expanded as Jordan joined the war. Israel responded by capturing East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
3. June 8: Israeli forces gained full control of the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt suffered heavy losses and agreed to a ceasefire.
4. June 9–10: Israel attacked Syria and captured the Golan Heights. A ceasefire was agreed on June 10.

The war was an unmitigated disaster for the Arab nations and a complete triumph for Israel. Approximately 11,000 Egyptian soldiers, 6,000 Jordanians, and 1,000 Syrians died, while Israel lost about 700 soldiers. However, the most significant outcomes were territorial:

• From Egypt: Israel gained the Sinai Peninsula
• From Syria: The Golan Heights
• From Jordan: The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

Alongside these losses, Arab states also suffered heavy damage to their military technology and weapons systems. Israel emerged as the undisputed military and technological superpower of the region.

Note: Images showing the shift in territory across the years—from pre-WWII, the UN partition plan, the 1948 war and Nakba, to the aftermath of the Six-Day War—help contextualize this transformation.

Between the Wars (1967–1973)

Following the war, Israel's occupation of key Arab territories led to heightened tensions. UN Resolution 242 called for Israeli withdrawal and mutual recognition, but its terms were interpreted differently by each side. Egypt launched the War of Attrition (1967–70), while the PLO’s influence and guerrilla activities increased.

After the death of President Nasser in 1970, Anwar Sadat came to power in Egypt and began preparing for renewed conflict. Meanwhile, Cold War rivalries deepened: the US strongly backed Israel, while the USSR supported various Arab states. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict repeatedly failed.

The Yom Kippur War (1973)

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a day of atonement, fasting, and spiritual renewal. In 1973, it became the day of a surprise Arab attack on Israel.

In the early hours of October 6, Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal into the Sinai Desert, while Syrian troops launched an assault on the Golan Heights. Israel was caught off-guard, and Arab forces initially made significant gains. However, Israel rapidly mobilized and counterattacked, eventually regaining much of the lost territory.

The war had profound consequences. For the Arab world, still reeling from the humiliation of 1967, the early gains of 1973 offered a sense of psychological redemption. For Israel, the war highlighted that military dominance could no longer be taken for granted. This shift in mindset paved the way for diplomacy. In 1978, the Camp David Accords were brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the presidential retreat of Camp David. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a series of peace agreements, with Egypt formally recognizing Israel—the first Arab country to do so—in exchange for Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula. However, this peace came at a price. On October 6, 1981, now a national holiday in Egypt celebrating the Suez Canal offensive—Sadat was assassinated by Khalid al-Islambuli, who cited Sadat’s peace with Israel and his plans for a more progressive Egypt as his motives.

OPEC and the Oil Weapon

Before concluding this part of the series, it’s important to note that while the Arab world realized it could not defeat Israel or its tacit ally, the United States militarily, it did possess a powerful economic weapon: oil.

Founded in 1960, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established by major oil-producing nations to control the supply and pricing of oil on global markets. Most of its key members were Arab states, many of whom were strongly opposed to Israel. Most OPEC members were situated in the Arab world and were strongly opposed to Israel and its actions. In response to Western support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War, particularly from the United States, Arab members of OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, imposed an oil embargo on the US and other pro-Israel nations. This triggered a global oil crisis, as prices quadrupled almost overnight, leading to widespread economic shock, soaring inflation, and a significant shift in global power toward oil-producing countries. (as a shameless plug, read 1979 and all that on presctutoring.com for more info!)

This finishes part 2 of the series. The next instalment will introduce Lebanon, The PLO, Bill Clinton and culminate in the events of October 7^th 2023.