On the Eve of the Six-Day War

[Swede]

This week, Jewish Ideas Daily commemorates the forty-fifth anniversary of the Six-Day War with a day-by-day synopsis. Below, the first of a seven-part series.

Forty-five years ago today, on June 4, 1967, Israel and the Jewish world were in suspense. Today, we recall the Six-Day War as a stunning martial victory by the Jewish state; but on the war's eve, this outcome was wholly unforeseeable. Indeed, the odds appeared firmly stacked against Israel; that is why its victory became such an inspiration to Jews worldwide—an experience as formative, to the generation that watched it, as the Holocaust and Israel's founding were to the preceding one.

But how did war break out? Michael Oren, historian of the war and current Israeli ambassador to the United States notes, "Even a discussion of a context must have a starting point," even if this point represents a somewhat "arbitrary choice." One starting point is Soviet-backed Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He came to power in 1954 and by 1956 had already fought a war with Israel in the Sinai. Israel routed the Egyptians in that conflict but withdrew from Sinai after promises that it would have freedom of navigation through the vital Straits of Tiran, off the Sinai coast. As insurance, the United Nations put a peacekeeping force on the armistice line.

http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/module/2012/6/4/main-feature/1/on-the-eve-of-the-six-day-war

[Swede]

1. My brother was a UN Peacekeeper during the 70s. He served in the Sinai and in the Golan Heights.

He had many interesting stories from those days.

[azurnoir]

2. I always find it quite interesting that the beginning of the 6 Day War is broken up in segments

Last edited Tue Jun 12, 2012, 03:08 PM - Edit history (2)

as you rarely find that with other wars most would agree that WW2 started on September 1 1939 not different dates for different locals, but as history is often written by the victors and Israel did fire the first shot in the 6 Day War it is 'understandable' in this instance

[Swede]

4. It started when Egypt closed the straits of Tiran.

This blockade was an act of war. Israel reiterated declarations made in 1957 that any closure of the Straits would be considered an act of war, or a justification for war.

[azurnoir]

8. well it was for Israel

but it seems that Israel is doing the same to Gaza with much more damaging results, it claims it has to stop all shipping traffic to stop weapons when it would seem inspecting the ships would suffice if indeed it was simply weapons

[King_David]

5. Who Started It?

Israel, the War, and the Year That Transformed the Middle East
Reviewed by Michael Oren
Sunday, June 10, 2007

1967


By Tom Segev

Metropolitan. 673 pp. $35

The scenes flashed across the TV screens: tens of thousands of Arab troops massing on Israel's borders, frenzied demonstrations in every Arab capital demanding the demise of the Jewish state, the leaders of the Soviet bloc proclaiming unqualified support for Arab war aims while the French -- Israel's only ally -- abruptly changed sides. "Our objective is the freeing of Palestine and the liquidation of the Zionist existence," declared the Syrian chief of staff, while the Iraqi president proclaimed, "Our goal is clear -- to wipe Israel off the face of the map." Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, who ousted U.N. peacekeepers from the Egypt-Israel border and blockaded Israeli shipping through the Straits of Tiran, foresaw a "total war . . . aimed at Israel's destruction." Bracing themselves for the onslaught, Israelis called up their army reserve, hoarded gas masks, and dug trenches and thousands of graves. Yet even these preparations seemed insufficient. "We shall destroy Israel and prepare boats to deport the survivors," the Palestine Liberation Organization pledged, "if there are any."

Israel did not wait to see if Arab leaders would fulfill their promises. On June 5, 1967 -- 40 years ago last week -- the Israelis struck. In an attack lasting a little over an hour, the Israeli air force destroyed more than 250 Egyptian planes, and Israeli ground forces broke through Egyptian lines in Sinai. Israel had urged Jordan to stay out of the war, but Jordanian artillery began shelling West Jerusalem and suburban Tel Aviv, and Jordanian warplanes struck Israeli coastal cities. From atop the Golan Heights, Syrian gunners rained thousands of shells onto Israeli farms in Galilee. Though faced with a multi-front war, the Israelis fought vigorously, first driving the Egyptians out of Sinai and Gaza and the Jordanians out of the West Bank and Jerusalem. They then silenced the Syrian guns and captured the Golan Heights. In six extraordinary days, Israel's citizen soldiers had defeated three major Arab armies and captured territories four times the size of pre-1967 Israel.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/07/AR2007060701872.html

[holdencaufield]

6. "...most would agree that WW2 started on September 1 1939..."

The invasion of Poland was certainly a significant milestone in World War II -- it certainly wasn't the first aggression in that war. It is simply the event that brought a declaration of war from the UK and the commonwealth countries.

Japan was at War with China as early as '37. German armed invasion of the Czechoslovakia began in '38 and Lithuania in early '39.

For the vast majority of Americans -- also victors and history writers of World War II -- the 2nd World War began in earnest in December 1941. The attacks on the US territories and British Commonwealth colonies in that month truly expanded the war into a global conflict which -- until that time -- had been primarily relegated to Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia.

So, fixing the start date to a war isn't as cut and dry as you seem to think.

[azurnoir]

7. The US officilly entered the war at the end of 1941

but thanks I was wondering who'd be the first to break it down to fit political need so once again who fired the first shot in the 6 day war?

[holdencaufield]

9. Egypt committed the first act of war...

... which is how the aggressors are determined.

But, I see where you and Mel Gibson are of similar minds over who starts all the wars

[Mosby]

3. The Six Day War - Day by Day (links)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1166433