Tension and conflict, 1956–73

Question 1

What was the Six Day War (1967)?

Answer 1

• The Israelis launched a pre-emptive strike in response to Nasser’s request for the removal of UN troops from the Sinai (which was possibly as a result of the Soviets’ warning to Nasser and Jordan about Israel)
• It was a victory for the Israelis against the odds
• The Arabs lost 20,000 men, 430 aircrafts and 800 tanks
• The Israelis lost under 1,000 men, 46 aircrafts and 400 tanks

Question 2

What were the consequences for ISRAEL of the Six Day War?

Answer 2

• Israel increased its size by 350%
• The UN did not recognise Israel’s claim over this new land
• Its boarders were easier to defend
• East Jerusalem was captured, which had symbolic/religious significance
• The West Bank had fertile land and created a buffer with Jordan
• The capture of Golan Heights prevented Syria from being able to place artillery there to fire on Israel anymore
• The capture of the Sinai desert created a buffer zone with Egypt and secured access to the Straits of Tiran
• The capture of Gaza meant that Fedayeen bases could be destroyed

Question 3

What were the consequences for the ARAB STATES of the Six Day War?

Answer 3

• Nasser was humiliated due the loss of the Sinai, Gaza and the blocking of the Suez Canal
• The USSR supplied more military equipment to Egypt and Syria, subsequently gaining more influence
• There was a war of attrition as Egypt bombarded Israeli positions in the Sinai, with Israel retaliating with raids until the US organised a ceasefire in 1970

Question 4

What was the PLO?

Answer 4

• The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was an umbrella political organization claiming to represent the world’s Palestinians.

Question 5

Summarise the growth of the PLO?

Answer 5

• It was founded in 1964 with Al Fatah as its most important element
• It expanded after the 6 day war
• Palestinians felt that they were on their own as Syria, Egypt and Jordan had been defeated and were more concerned with recovering their own land
• Over 300,000 refugees had fled to the West Bank in 1937, which swelled the ranks of the PLO
• Israel launched an attack on Karameh in March 1968 involving 15,000 troops, which the PLO retaliated with using just 300 men; This success encouraged more Palestinians to join the PLO
• Yasser Arafat tried to focus the PLO on attacks on Israel

Question 6

What was Dawson’s Field Incident (September 1970)

Answer 6

• Extremists belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacked three airliners and took them to Dawson’s Field in Jordan
• They demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Britain, West Germany and Switzerland
• They let the passengers get off before they blew up the planes
• This event caused King Hussein of Jordan to fear foreign intervention, so he used the army to drive out the PLO. 10,000 guerrillas were killed and the rest moved to Syria or Lebanon
• A new extremist group called ‘Black September’ carried out retaliation attacks, including the assassination of the Jordanian Prime Minister

Question 7

What happened at the Munich Olympics (September 1972)

Answer 7

• Black September members held Israeli athletes competing in the Munich Olympics hostage and killing 2
• They demanded the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel
• The situation ended with 9 more athletes, a policeman and 5 terrorists being killed when West German police attempted a rescue
• The Terrorists gained publicity
• Israel launched strikes on Syria and Jordan in retaliation

Question 8

The consequences of the the Munich Massacre.

Answer 8

• This event shocked the world and lead people to considering the Palestinian problem
• In 1974, Yasser Arafat was invited to address the UN, which gave him international status and publicity for the Palestinian homeland issue

Question 9

Explain the Yom Kippur War (1973) and why it came about?

Answer 9

• Egypt began the war in order to regain control of the Sinai
• President Anwar Sadat had attempted to peacefully negotiate the return of the Sinai using UN Resolution 242 and by expelling 15,000 Soviet advisors in order to encourage the USA to put pressure on Israel, yet neither worked
• Syria wanted to regain control of the Golan Heights

Question 10

Why were Egypt and Syria so successful initially with The Yom Kippur War.

Answer 10

• They launched a surprise attack on the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, which meant that many soldiers were at home on leave and that Israel’s military defences were at their weakest
• The Egyptians were incredibly efficient at crossing the Sinai: the Egyptian artillery bombed the Bar Lev line, high pressure water canons were used to overcome sand barriers and built temporary bridges. By 4:30pm, 23,000 Egyptian troops were in the Sinai
• The Egyptians were armed with modern missiles provided by the USSR, which were used to attack Israeli aircrafts and tanks
• The Syrians attacked simultaneously at the Golan Heights with 1,200 tanks and 60,000 troops, which far outnumbered the Israelis’

Question 11

How did Israel manage to win the Yom Kippur War?

Answer 11

• One advantage of the holiday was that the roads were clear, enabling rapid troop movement
• Better quality tanks (such as the Centerian, which could suppress the gun more, allowing more coverage)
• Their well-trained and motivated troops helped them to win the battle on the Golan Heights and push back the invaders
• The US supplies were crucial and were airlifted on the 15th of October

Question 12

What mistakes were made by Egypt in the Yom Kippur War?

Answer 12

• The Egyptian forces moved too far into the Sinai, beyond the protection SAM missiles
• They lost 260 tanks and were forced to retreat to the Canal
• Israeli forced crossed the canal and knocked out Egyptian defences, using fats and a mobile bridge, which left Egyptian forces still in the Sinai surrounded

Question 13

How did the Yom Kippur War end?

Answer 13

• Both superpowers desired a ceasefire
• The USSR threatened to intervene when it realised that the Egyptian army was trapped
• This led to the USA to go on nuclear alert to deter Soviet involvement
• The Arab states stopped selling oil to the USA, which used its influence with Israel to cease fighting on the 24th October

Question 14

What were the consequences of the Yom Kippur War?

Answer 14

• Israeli PM Golda Meir resigned because of internal criticism of the handling of the war
• Sadat’s standing was improved as the Egyptians and Syrians had fought well
• The Palestinians gained nothing and world attention now focused on the Israel/Egypt issue and ownership of the Sinai
• The USA now had to act as a force for peace as now they had realised that the Arabs could use the ‘oil weapon’ against them and they had almost been lead into a conflict with the USSR
• The US negotiated a separation of the 2 sides and the UN peacekeeping force went into the Suez Canal Zone and the Golan Heights
• The Canal was reopened in 1975