Gabra
Mariam gabra04-10-2014
The war of Yom Kippur also referred to the October war of 1973 was one of the more recent wars in Middle Eastern History. Its name is derived from the Jewish religious celebration on which it took place, Yom Kippur[1].
Six years prior to the Yom Kippur War, Israel had launched attack on Egypt in response to the mobilization of their army along the border of Israel. Within a matter of six days, Israel had won a significant mass of land. Israel took control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and several other land masses. After the final target, Golan Heights, ceasefire was signed and hostilities were suspended. The Israelis came out of the ‘Six Day War’ with a substantial addition to their territory as well as one million Arabs that resided in the newly captured land masses. Politically, the War of 1967 lay down the groundwork for the Yom Kippur War that followed a mere six years later. The Israelis had demonstrated the way regional boundaries could be reassessed by implementing a strategic and surprise offensive attack.
The fluctuation of borders had complicated trade terms for Nations worldwide. Soviet Russia and the United States tried to negotiate parameters of their Middle Eastern Trade agreements in attempt to maintain business with their clients based on region rather than political boundaries[2].
The Arab retaliation on Israel took place on October 5th, 1973. The Egyptians and Syrians initiated a surprise attack on Israel on the Judaist holiday, Yom Kippur[3]. While Israeli festivities were under way, the Arab Coalition launched a joint attack on the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights which had been taken from them by force only a few years prior[4]. The attack was purposely and strategically set on the date of the religious holiday, with knowledge the Israeli guard would be down during the ceremonies.
Not only was Israel caught by surprise, but they were also outnumbered by the significantly larger opposing side on every field of battle. Egypt and Syria were aided by many neighboring Arab countries[5]. Iraq made a contribution of 18 000 soldiers, and Soviet Russia contributed by supplying arms and technology to the Arab forces[6]. The Arab armies had already made a substantial advance while several of Israel’s soldiers were busy celebrating Yom Kippur. It was days before the defense was ready for battle. Despite their strong shortcoming, the Israeli army was hesitant in accepting defeat and pushed back the opposing Arab armies at the expense of their militia and equipment[7].
Although Israel had quickly gained force and were doing well to keep the Arabs out of Israeli territory, they feared Soviet and United State intervention, fearing that it would sever their relationships. Israel’s secretary of state proposed that Russia and the United States call for a ceasefire, but his plea was futile when Egypt refused to do so. It was at this point that the Soviets begun to provide the Arab troops with additional weaponry. The tables of War were once again turned, and Israel fell at another major disadvantage.
After realizing the strength of the Arab armed forces after reinforcement from Soviet Russia, the Israelis asked for help from the United States. President Nixon of the United States agreed to provide them with help, after a week’s delay out of sympathy and respect for Egypt. When they did arrive, The U.S. aided Israel by supplying them with an airlift of arms. The Egyptian armed forces that were previously reluctant to accept the proposal of a ceasefire began to show interest in surrendering.
The U.S. and the Soviet proposed yet another peace agreement for the War they were aiding with. Although the allies of the Arab-Israeli war were begging to back out and start searching for more peaceful alternative solutions, the Israeli troops showed no sign of turning back, and continued their advance[8]. It wasn’t until the U.S. put their nuclear forces on alert that the Israeli council accepted the resolution and agreed on a ceasefire. On October 25th, the War of Yom Kippur came to an end with Israeli victor[9]. All of their militia from either side was withdrawn and peacekeepers from the United Nations were instated in to monitor the truce.
Israel’s victory came at the price of heavy causalities, and the strength and mobility of Israeli militia was questioned. Golda Meir, the Prime Minister who had been on duty during the war was publically called to resign, and she stepped down a mere year after the victory. The new cabinet after Meir created a National Security Council to ensure better coordination amongst the country’s security parameters.
On the contrary, Egyptian Prime Minister Anwar Sadat received high praise for the Arab successes during the early days of the War. The fact that Israel was able to overcome their early setbacks and eventually gain even more Arab territory during the war only convinced the Arabs that Israel could not be defeated. This promoted for them to implement peace treaties between Arabic and Israeli nations, which eventually led to the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt[10].
While Israel won the October War, their allies including the U.S. were less fortunate. In response to their support for Israel by supplying their military, members of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries placed an embargo on the United States and other countries that had presented support for Israel[11]. The embargo prevented petroleum exports to the affected countries. These nations had grown dependent on oil from overseas, and strained the economies of effected countries (History.com). This led to a massive rise of oil prices on the global scale. In the United States, this led to the promotion of domestic energy independence[12].
The October War (1973)[13]
1973 War — The Golan Heights Campaign
[14]
Bibliography
El Badri, Hassan (1979).The Ramadan War, 1973. Fairfax,
Va: T. N. Dupuy Associates Books
Herzog, Chaim (2003) [1975].The War of Atonement: The Inside
Story of the Yom Kippur War. London: Greenhill Books.
Office of the Historian. Washington: U.S Department of State,
2013. s.v. "Oil Embargo, 1973–1974." .gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo (accessed March 20, 2014).
Office of the Historian. Washington: U.S Department of State,
2013. s.v. "The 1973 Arab-Israeli War." state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/arab-israeli-war-1973 accessed March 21, 2014).
Staff, History.com. "Yom Kippur War."The History Channel,
2009. (accessed March 23, 2014).
Midlleeast1973, October war 1973
(accessedAPRIL 1998)
1973 War The Golan Heights Campaign
(accessed march 2014)
[1]Hassan El Badri,The Ramadan War, (Fairfax: DupayAssiciates Books, 1979), 17.
[2]Office of the Historian, The 1973 Arab-Israeli War, (History.com: 2006), 28.
[3]Hassan El Badri,The Ramadan War, (Fairfax: DupayAssiciates Books, 1979), 05
[4]Office of the Historian, The 1973 Arab-Israeli War, (History.com: 2006), 06.
[5]Herzog Chaim,The War of Atonement: The Inside Story of the Yom Kippur War, (London: Greenhill Books, 1975), 32.
[6]Herzog Chaim,The War of Atonement: The Inside Story of the Yom Kippur War, (London: Greenhill Books, 1975), 32.
[7]Office of the Historian, The 1973 Arab-Israeli War, (History.com: 2006), 07.
[8]Office of the Historian, The 1973 Arab-Israeli War, (History.com: 2006), 46.
[9]Hassan El Badri,The Ramadan War, (Fairfax: DupayAssiciates Books, 1979), 18.
[10]Office of the Historian, The 1973 Arab-Israeli War, (History.com: 2006), 01.
[11] Office of the Historian, Oil Embargo 1973-1974, (History.com: 2006), 02.
[12] Office of the Historian, Oil Embargo 1973-1974, (History.com: 2006), 02.
[13] Midlleeast1973, October war 1973 ( :1998),02
[14]Jewishvirtuallibrary973 War — The Golan Heights Campaign (