Six-Day War

6DayWarEnglish

The Six-Day War was a pivotal conflict in the Middle East, fought from June 5 to June 10, 1967, between Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt (then known as the United Arab Republic), Jordan, and Syria. The war resulted in a significant reshaping of the region's geopolitical landscape, with Israel capturing the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank including East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria.

Background

The origins of the Six-Day War can be traced back to the longstanding Arab-Israeli conflict. Tensions escalated in the early 1960s due to Palestinian guerrilla attacks from Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, and the retaliatory measures by Israel. The immediate catalyst for the war was Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser's decision in May 1967 to expel the UN peacekeeping forces from the Sinai Peninsula and block Israeli shipping through the Strait of Tiran, which Israel considered an act of war.

Course of the War

The war began on June 5, 1967, when Israel launched a preemptive airstrike, Operation Focus (Mivtza Moked), which decimated the Egyptian Air Force on the ground, giving Israel air superiority. Following the initial success, Israel quickly took control of the Sinai Peninsula. Meanwhile, Jordan, misled by false Egyptian reports of victory, began shelling Israeli positions in Jerusalem, prompting Israel to open a second front. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan. On the northern front, Israel responded to Syrian shelling by attacking the Golan Heights, capturing it after intense fighting.

Aftermath

The Six-Day War had profound implications for the region. Israel's territorial gains significantly altered its strategic depth and demographics, sparking further tensions and leading to the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The war also resulted in the displacement of a large number of Palestinians, contributing to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 242, calling for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict and the acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of every state in the area.

Legacy

The Six-Day War has left a lasting legacy on the Middle East and the world. It has been the subject of extensive analysis, debate, and scholarship. The war demonstrated the importance of air power, preemption, and intelligence in modern warfare. It also had significant implications for Jewish-Arab relations, U.S.-Middle East policy, and the strategic balance in the region.