Video of the week: “The 6 Days War Explained
- In Animation“ - http://tinyurl.com/yctxpjvb
MYTH
"Israel's
military strike in 1967 was unprovoked."
FACT
A combination of bellicose Arab
rhetoric, threatening behavior and, ultimately, an act of war left Israel no
choice but preemptive action. To do this successfully, Israel needed the
element of surprise. Had it waited for an Arab invasion, Israel would have been
at a potentially catastrophic disadvantage.
While Nasser continued to make
speeches threatening war, Arab terrorist attacks
grew more frequent. In 1965, 35 raids were conducted against Israel. In 1966,
the number increased to 41. In just the first four months of 1967, 37 attacks
were launched.
Meanwhile, Syria's attacks on
Israeli kibbutzim from the Golan Heights provoked
a retaliatory strike on April 7, 1967, during which Israeli planes shot down
six Syrian MiGs. Shortly thereafter, the Soviet Union — which had been
providing military and economic aid to both Syria and Egypt — gave Damascus
information alleging a massive Israeli military buildup in preparation for an
attack. Despite Israeli denials, Syria decided to invoke its defense treaty
with Egypt.
On May 15, Israel's Independence Day, Egyptian
troops began moving into the Sinai and massing near the Israeli border. By May
18, Syrian troops were prepared for battle along the Golan Heights.
Nasser ordered the UN Emergency Force, stationed
in the Sinai since 1956, to withdraw on May 16. Without bringing the matter to
the attention of the General Assembly, as
his predecessor had promised, Secretary-General U Thant complied with the
demand. After the withdrawal of the UNEF, the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed
(May 18, 1967):
As of today, there no longer exists
an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience
no more. We shall not complain any more to the UN about Israel. The sole method
we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the extermination
of Zionist existence.
An enthusiastic echo was heard May
20 from Syrian Defense Minister Hafez Assad:
Our forces are now entirely ready
not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation
itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian
army, with its finger on the trigger, is united....I, as a military man,
believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of annihilation.
On May 22, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to
all Israeli shipping and all ships bound for Eilat. This
blockade cut off Israel's only supply route with Asia and stopped the flow of oil from
its main supplier, Iran. The
following day, President Johnson expressed the belief that the blockade was
illegal and unsuccessfully tried to organize an international flotilla to test
it.
Nasser was fully aware of the
pressure he was exerting to force Israel's hand. The day after the blockade was
set up, he said defiantly: "The Jews threaten to make war. I reply:
Welcome! We are ready for war."
Nasser challenged Israel to fight
almost daily. "Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The
Arab people want to fight," he said on May 27. The following day, he added:
"We will not accept any...coexistence with Israel...Today the issue is not
the establishment of peace between the Arab states and Israel....The war with
Israel is in effect since 1948."
The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria
and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel...to face the challenge, while
standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole
Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the
Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached
the stage of serious action and not declarations.
President Abdur Rahman Aref of Iraq
joined in the war of words: "The existence of Israel is an error which
must be rectified. This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has
been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear -- to wipe Israel off the map." On June 4, Iraq joined the
military alliance with Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
The Arab rhetoric was matched by the
mobilization of Arab forces. Approximately 250,000 troops (nearly half in
Sinai), more than 2,000 tanks and 700 aircraft ringed Israel.
By this time, Israeli forces had
been on alert for three weeks. The country could not remain fully mobilized
indefinitely, nor could it allow its sea lane through the Gulf of Aqaba to be
interdicted. Israel's best option was to strike first.On June 5, the order was
given to attack Egypt.
the brilliant victory in 6-day war paved a way to settlment activity of to day. the Israel have a full right to annex a zone C in Judea and Samaria and to keep the rest of the "west banc ' under his control.
ReplyDeleteregards Josef Baruhovic