The escalating conflict, 1964-73

Question 1

The Cairo conference
Arab League members attending. The conference itself and consequences were very significant.
-PLO set up PLA- an armed force to fight for liberation
-Israel had little to fear because of its own military might. The PLA only attracted 12,000 soldiers.
-It highlighted the problems of Palestinian land and refugees, and confirming the support of Arab states for Palestine
-It confirmed Egypt as the leading Arab nation and Nasser as the leader of the Arab ‘world’ as he organised the conference
-PLO was created for Palestinians to unite behind and to be responsible for Palestinians’ welfare
-It showed that Arab states were prepared to work together and take joint action against Israel
-This showed the world that Nasser and the Arab states were firmly anti-Israel without resorting to war
-Nasser cleverly presented Israel’s plan to divert the River Jordan as a threat to all Arab states
-This led to the agreement of the Headwater Diversion Plan- Syria and Lebanon would divert two of the three sources of River Jordan away from the Sea of Galilee so Israel would not be able to use it for new settlements or farms
-Israel was very worried, especially once Syria began building a canal to divert the water in 1965.
-The Arab states declared that if Israel went ahead and diverted water, they would prepare for war against Israel
-Israel was not afraid as the IDF was a superior force to Arab armies (Egyptian+ Syrian armies were poorly trained)
-Israel was also buying weapons from USA as well as France

Answer 1

1964

Question 2

Tensions between Syria and Israel escalated

Answer 2

1966-67

Because of Syrian support for Fatah raids on Israel

Question 3

Fatah

Answer 3

-Founded in 1959 by Yasser Arafat, who wanted to create a Palestinian state.
-Believed in using violence to destroy Israel-guerrilla tactics included over 70 raids between 1965 and 1967, attacking villages and the military and bombing roads, railways and pipelines
-Had bases in Jordan(the West Bank), Lebanon and Syria(not Gaza as the UN peacekeeping troops remained there)
-Became the largest of many Palestinian guerrilla groups from 1965
-Israel always retaliated in response to raids, often causing a great amount of damage, but this gained publicity for Palestinians and Arafat

Question 4

Syrian support for Fatah

Answer 4

-Syria provided support for Fatah in the form of weapons and money and set up training camps for Fatah fighters in Syria
-This grew after Feb 1966 when the new Syrian government increased support
-Without this, Fatah action would have been extremely limited
-Jordan was a US ally and was trying to establish good relations with Israel
-It did not support Fatah but did little to stop raids from the West Bank

Question 5

Egyptian-Syrian Pact

Answer 5

November 1966

-Syria accused Nasser of not helping Palestinians
-This led to the Egyptian-Syrian

Question 6

Israel’s raid on Samu

Answer 6

13 November 1966

11 November 1966: A landmine explosion on the border between Israel and Jordan, killed 3 Israeli policemen and injured 6. Fatah was suspected of carrying out the attack but no group claimed responsibility.
King Hussein of Jordan wrote a letter of condolence to Israeli PM but it arrived too late

13 November 1966: Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol sent 600 troops, 11 tanks and 60 military vehicles to the village of Samu in the West Bank, Jordan as a reprisal (it is unclear why Samu was chosen)
-Villagers were gathered in the square while buildings were dynamited
-About 100 Jordanian troops coincidently stumbled across what was happening and attacked the Israelis, leaving 15 Jordanians, 1 Israeli and 3 villagers dead

Consequences:
-There was international condemnation for Eshkol and Israel’s action
-It destroyed hope of good relations between Israel and Jordan
King Hussein wanted revenge but clamped down on Fatah raids from the West Bank to prevent further Israeli attacks
-Hussein pressurised Nasser to act against Israel

Question 7

Syrian and Israeli fighter jets clash in a dogfight

Answer 7

On 7th April 1967

Syrian guns fired on an Israeli tractor (probably deliberately provoked by Israel) in the demilitarised zone near the Golan Heights. The Israeli air force then attacked the gun positions and some Syrian villages so the Syrian air force took to the skies. During the air fight, the Syrians lost 6 planes and the rest went back to Damascus. The event damaged relations between Israel and Syria even further.

Question 8

The Six Day war

Answer 8

On 5th June-10th June 1967
Israel launched a surprise attack on Egypt, Syria and Jordan. In just six days they won a huge victory with few losses and massive territorial gains. (Pre-emptive strike)

Question 9

Resolution 242

Answer 9

On 22 November 1967
-All members of the UN agreed to adopt it

1)Israel had to return ‘territories occupied in the recent conflict’
2)Arab countries must recognise Israel’s right to security and its right to exist
3)The ‘refugee problem’ must be settled fairly

Question 10

Arab League Conference in Khartoum

Answer 10

August 1967

-Decided on the three No’s
No peace with Israel
No recognition of Israel
No negotiations with Israel

-However, when resolution was passed, Egypt and Jordan seemed to accept it, although Nasser said Israel must withdraw from occupied territories first

Question 11

Golan Heights

Answer 11

Previously Syria

Question 12

Gaza strip

Answer 12

Previously Egypt

Question 13

West Bank

Answer 13

Previously Jordan

Question 14

Sinai

Answer 14

Previously Egypt

Question 15

East Jerusalem

Answer 15

Previously Jordan

Question 16

International law states that a country cannot annex or indefinitely occupy territory gained by force, nor can it bring its own people to populate an occupied territory

Answer 16

Give back?
Occupy?
Or Annex?