Back to the video list: Israeli History

 

During the 1960s the Arab states put more and more pressure on Israel and threatened to extinct the State of Israel. Against this background Israel decided to launch an preemptive attack on Egypt, Syria and Jordan. During the famous six days in June the Israel Defense Forces defeated all of her powerful Arab neighbors.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 05 – 10 Jun 1967
  • Location: Sinai, West Bank & Golan Heights
  • Start: Israeli Air Force attacks Egyptian airfields
  • End: Capture of the Golan Heights by the IDF

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Israel
  • Egypt
  • Jordan
  • Syria
  • Moshe Dayan (1915 – 1981), Israeli minister of defence
  • Yitzhak Rabin (1922 – 1995), Israeli chief of general staff

 

Background

  • Israel defeats Arab forces in the two previous Israeli-Arab wars (Israeli War of Independence, 1948 & Suez Crises, 1956)
  • Arab states deny Israel the right to exist
    • Egyptian president Nasser: “Our fundamental goal is the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight.” (27 May 1967)
  • Syria & Egypt support Palestinian terrorists against Israel
  • Regular border conflicts:
    • Syria & Israel
    • Egypt & Israel
  • Egypt expels the UN troops from the Sinai, moves troops to the Israeli border & closes the Strait of Tiran

 

History

Prologue

  • 15 – 16 May 1967: Egypt moves approx. 100,000 troops to the Israeli border
  • 17 May 1967: Nasser demands the withdrawal of the UN troops from the Sinai – Withdrawal starts 19 May
  • 17 May 1967: Israel mobilises 18,000 reservists
  • 22 May 1967: Egypt closes the Strait of Tiran for Israeli ships
  • From 25 May 1967: Syria & Jordan move troops to the Israeli border

 

05 – 10 June 1967

  • 05 Jun 1967: Pre-emptive air strikes of the Israeli Air Force against the air forces of 1st Egypt & 2nd Syria & Jordan
  • 05 – 08 Jun 1967: Israeli ground forces invade the Sinai & advance to the Suez Canal
  • 06 – 07 Jun 1967: Israeli ground forces advance into the West Bank and take Jerusalem
  • 08 – 10 Jun 1967: Israeli ground forces conquer the Golan Heights
  • Until 11 Jun 1967: Armistice

 

Consequences & Impact

  • Israel gains control over additional territories:
    • Sinai – The Sinai gives Israel a strategic depth against Egypt (1982 returned to Egypt)
    • West Bank
    • Jerusalem – Jerusalem is the religious & political centre of Israel
    • Golan Heights – The Golan Heights are a strategically highly important positions against Syria
  • Israel improves her position in terms of security policy:
    • Territorial changes (see above)
    • Substantial military losses of the Arab neighbours
  • Deepening of the Arab-Israeli enmity: