The Six-Day War

June 5-11, 1967

Historical Crisis Council

By: Elizabeth Upton

Introduction

October 10, 1960, Israel’sforeign minister Golda Meir challenged Arab leaders in an address to the UN General Assembly, to meet and negotiate a peace settlement with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. The Arab leader Nasser answered October 15, and stated that his country will never recognize the Jewish State, and that Israel was trying to deceive world opinion. This also went with their refusal to negotiate a separate settlement for the refugees. A statement said by Nasser at the United Nations Republic National Assembly March 26,1964: “Israel and the imperialism around us, which confront us, are two separate things. There have been attempts to separate them, in order to break up the problems and present them in an imaginary light as if the problem of Israel is the problem of the refugees, by the solution of which the problem of Palestine will also be solved and no residue of the problem will remain. The danger of Israel lies in the very existence of Israel as it is in the present and in what she represents.” This goes back to when the British mandate on Palestine expired on May 14, 1948. The Jewish People’s Council, and then officially approved a proclamation that declared the establishment and independence of the State of Israel. Palestine, and numerous other countries did not accept their claim, and some still do not to this day. The conflict between these two countries only increased, the Arab League introduced a new weapon to fight against the Israelis with in 1963. This was the start of the attacks to Israel by Arabs, and the start to the three wars fought between the two.

Council

The Historical Crisis Council for OCMUNC XV will feature the main member states involved in the conflict. These 24 nations will discuss the issues surrounding the conflict and react in a diplomatic fashion. You must act as a delegate and protect your regional safety as well as global, without infringing upon the rights or sovereignty of any other nation. Your role as a delegate is to keep your country’s interest in mind as you try to work through the Six day war, starting with day 1, and come to a resolution that will end the conflict, prevent it from happening again, and resolve any turmoil that it has caused, or may cause. Day 1 of the six day war was June 5, 1967. As delegates, it’s your duty to come to a speedy and gracious resolution to the battle.

History

Preceding the official start of the war, Palestinian guerilla groups based in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan were increasing in attacks against Israel. A strike on the village of Al-Sumu in Jordanian West Bank left 18 dead and wounded 54; this was performed on November 1966 by Israel, and during an air battle with Syria, Israel’s air force gunned down six Syrian MiG fighter jets. Also, Soviet sources released intelligence that indicated that Israel was plotting against Syria. This information was proved untrue, but the tension only grew between Israel and the Arab neighbors.[1]

Nasser, the Egyptian president, became under fire when accused of hiding behind the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) after failing to aid Syria and Jordan against Israel. To demonstrate support of Syria, Nasser moved troops into the Sinai, which served as a border between Egypt and Israel, on May 14, 1967. Then on May 18, Nasser formally requested that the UNEF stationed in Sinai be removed. He continued to close off the Gulf of Aqaba to Israel, hoping to fully blockade off the port in southern Israel in the city of Elat. May 30, Jordan’s monarch arrived in Cairo to sign a mutual defense pact with Egypt, this placed Jordanian forces under control of Egyptian command. Not long after this pact was signed, Iraq joined the alliance. The Israeli’s Defense Minister, General Moshe Dayan declared official war against Israel’s surrounding nations. Israel believed that it was only a matter of time before the 3 Arab states (Syria, Jordan, and Egypt) were going to co-ordinate a massive attack on Israel. Therefore, Israel thought it best if they act first. [2]

On June 5, after hearing about the mobilization of Egyptian troops, Israel performed an early morning preemptive air strike; it succeededand destroyed more than 90 percent of Egypt’s air force on the tarmac. After this, a similar attack happened on Syria’s air force. The results from the air attacks left Egypt vulnerable, unable to cover themselves from the sky using air force. Three days was all it took for Israel to capture the Gaza Strip, and all of the Siani Peninsula up to the east bank of the Suez Canal, this was an overwhelming victory for Israel on the ground.

On June 5, Jordanian forces began to bombard West Jerusalem, this opened an eastern front. Though this went against Israel’s warning to King Hussein to keep Jordan out of the fight. They faced a crushing Israeli counterattack; and on June 7, Jordanian forces were pushed out of West Jerusalem and most of the West Bank by Israeli forces. Though Israel Defense Forces were outnumbered, they managed to achieve a swift and decisive victory against its Arab neighbors.

The UN Security Council called for a cease fire on June 7. Jordan and Israel immediately accepted, and the following day Egypt agreed, though Syria refused and held out. Syria continued to attack villages in northern Israeli, so Israel launched an assault on June 9; that assault on the fortified Golan Heights in south- western Syria was successful and Israel was able to capture it from Syrian forces after along day of brutal fighting. Finally, on June 10, Syria accepted the cease-fire agreement. [3]

The losses of the Arab countries were tremendous, Egypt suffered casualties that were over 11,000, Jordan experienced 6,000 casualties, and Syria had 1,000. Israel only suffered from a small amount of casualties comparatively, being 700. Not only were the casualties in abundant numbers for the Arab countries, they also suffered from tremendous depletion of weaponry and equipment. The Arab public and the political elite were demoralized due to the overwhelming defeat, and Egyptian president announced his resignation on June 9, but quickly yielded it dueto mass amounts of demonstrations calling him to remain in office.[4]Israel’s overwhelming victory even doubled the amount of territory that was under Israel control. There was a feeling of euphoria sweeping the nation of Israel which had proved to be the region’s preeminent military power.And things continued to change in Israel and surrounding countries from then on.

Jordan deciding to join the war exacerbated the refugee problem in the region, prompting many citizens of the West bank and cross the Jordan River to settle in the “East bank” of Jordan. Some were able to return to the West bank, now controlled by Israel. These returning citizens, along with numerous others in the area experienced a continuous and unprecedented economic increase in the next 2 years. Israeli investment in the West bank and Gaza strip, along with new policies that allowed free movement in the region, increased the standard of living for numerous inhabitants, mostly Palestinians. During this relative prosperity under Israeli control, many Palestinians still were interested neither in continued occupation nor a state of their own alongside Israel. With increased tension and unrest in the territory, came greater restrictions. Violent uprisings often targeted Israeli civilians, with promptly increased security measures in the state. Eventually, peace between Egypt and Israel was found. However Israel’s with drawl from the Gaza Strip, without a peace treaty failed to end the violence towards Israel from that region.[5]

Guided Questions

  1. What was your nation’s relationship with Israel and the other countries involved in this conflict before 1967?
  2. How was your nation involved in the six day war?
  3. Who were your nation’s allies at the time of this war?
  4. How did your country initially react to the war in 1967?
  5. What was your nation’s economical, political, and military situation at the time of the war? And how did those affect the war and your nation’s role in it?

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