Essay: The Arab-Israeli war of 1967 overall impact

Tensions between Arab states and Israel have existed for decades and perpetually cause conflicts between the states. There have been many wars and conflicts between the two; however, none as iconic as the Six Day war of June 1967. Much of the war took place in the Sinai desert between Egypt; nonetheless, it was the events leading up the conflict that were the most pivotal in the results of the conflict itself (Miller; Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). The Arab world desired to reclaim the land given to the Jewish population after they were relocated following World War II (Six Days in June). The conflict dates to the beginning of the Zionist movement in which the Jewish population wanted to develop and maintain an independent state (Segev).  After Britain gave the Jewish population Palestinian and Arab land, hundreds of thousands of Arabs were evacuated from their homes and became refugees (Segev). Many were forced into what is now known as the Gaza Strip (Efrat; Segev). There was great political unrest between the Jewish and Arab populations after the Arabs claimed the Jewish people had stolen what was theirs and the Jewish believed they had simply reclaimed their rightful property (Efrat; Segev). This included a portion of Jerusalem, the Holy Land for both religions (Segev). The Israeli government wanted the Palestinians that were forced into the Gaza strip to emigrate elsewhere so that they could also claim the Gaza Strip and live peacefully in their new land (Efrat; Segev). Ove a year before the war of 1967, Israel attempted to make a deal with Jordan to relocate the Arab refugees to Germany (Segev). Israel believed this was only fair since Germany was the reason the Jewish population needed an independent state in the first place (Segev). In return, Israel offered to transfer the remaining refugees to the West Bank and even offered to return the West Bank to Jordan (Segev). The proposal suggested the 250,000 Gaza refugees would be displaced and emigrated to the West Bank over the period of ten years (Segev). This proposal viewed the refugees as an obstacle and a bargaining piece rather than people who had been removed from their homes (Segev). Their inability to view each other as people is what ultimately culminated into the war that destroyed the Arab state and allowed Israel to claim victory (Miller; Johnston).
There were many disturbances between Israel with their northern neighbor Syria, including the battle of Damascus (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). After this battle, the Prime Minister of Israel, Levi Eshkol, issued a statement warning the Arab states that if Syria continues to attack, Israel will have no choice but to fight back (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). This war took place during the Cold War and both Syria and Egypt were allies of the Soviet Union and Israel was allied with the United States (Stephens; Six Days in June). This warning was misinterpreted by the Soviet Union and intelligence received information that claimed that Israel planned to attack Syria with several brigades (Lamm; Six Days in June). This information, although false, set the disaster of the Six Day War in motion (Lamm; Six Days in June). On May 14, 1967, the president of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser, was informed of the possible, non-existing, conflict (Six Days in June). At the time, the United Nations was stationed between Egypt and Israel as an attempt to keep the peace (Six Days in June). However, after much discussion, the UN was removed, allowing the pure chaos that ensued (Six Days in June). After the United Nations left, Egypt got complete control of the Straits of Tiran, a body of water vital to the import and export of goods to Israel (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). After much deliberation, two weeks before the war began Egypt decided that they must close the Strait to avoid seeming weak to their own people and Israel (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). This was viewed as an act of war and Israel felt they should strike but their close ally, the United States, advised them against it (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). After closing the Strait, the already highly praised Nasser was seen by the people as a hero and admired by the Arab population (Oren; Six Days in June). The conflict became less about the original issue of Egypt protecting Arab states and more about proving the power of the state and ethnic identities (Six Days in June). Anti-Semitic media was widespread in Arab countries and people rallied in the streets, cheering for Nasser and his decision to isolate Israel (Six Days in June). Both super powers were using their allies as pawns in their Cold War (Six Days in June; Gera). Although the Soviet Union were the source of the information that led to the decision to go to war, they advised Nasser against striking first (Lamm; Six Days in June). At the same time, the United States were advising Israel on what they should do (Six Days in June). On June 3, 1967 twelve Israeli ministers voted to strike first to re-open the Strait of Tiran (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”).  The days that followed allowed Israel to claim three times their original land and reignited Jewish pride within Israel and around the globe (Gera; Stephens; Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). The war began officially on June 5th, 1967 (Stephens; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”).
Throughout the war, Radio Cairo was reporting that the Arab forces were winning the war but they were reporting false information (Six Days in June). The Jordanian forces were originally winning the fight as they bombed Jerusalem’s city center and killed hundreds of Israelis within 3 hours (Six Days in June). The Jordanian forces were occupying the compound formerly held by the United Nations when the Israeli army stormed the city center (Six Days in June). They entered yelling prayers and firing their weapons and took the Jordan army by storm (Six Days in June).  The Jordanian forces were defeated within three days and many Jordanians were taken prisoner (Six Days in June). The last remaining Jordanian military position was bombed on the third day of the war and there were no remaining Arab troops left in the Holy city (Six Days in June). The Jewish soldiers chanted prayers as they regained their sacred temple and occupied the sacred Muslim temples (Six Days in June).
The Arabs were being brutally beaten on all fronts and had yet to win any of the battles (Six Days in June). Despite all predictions and the strength of the Arab forces, the Israelis were defeating the Arab forces (Six Days in June). The Arab leaders began to panic as they were losing the war they believed would be an easy win (Six Days in June). They began to devise a plan to blame the United States for helping Israel; however, recordings were made of the leaders making this plan and they were later exposed (Six Days in June). The Arabs accused the United States of helping Israel and this caused the Arab world to have stronger feelings of hatred towards the West (Six Days in June).
The two superpowers of the time began to see that this war was becoming extremely destructive (Six Days in June). The Soviet Union wanted a complete ceasefire as their allies were being destroyed meanwhile the United States were attempting to negotiate a settlement (Six Days in June). The Egyptian army was ordered to withdraw from the Sinai on the fourth day but the command was heard over the radio by Israeli troops (Six Days in June). The Israelis created a trap that encircled the Egyptian troops and the Egyptian army was defeated by the Israelis (Six Days in June). Tens of thousands of Egyptian solders are killed and taken prisoner (Six Days in June).
Throughout this war, Syria was bombing Israel’s northern border and on the fifth day, Israel ordered an attack on Syria despite the Soviet Union warning them against it (Six Days in June; “Prelude to the June 1967 War: A Selective Chronology”). This created the most dangerous situation in the Cold War between Soviet and US allies since the Cuban Missile crisis (Six Days in June). Israel attacked the Syrian border as the Soviets prepared to strike military and communication targets in Israel and storm their borders (Six Days in June). Emergency UN meetings were held in Washington and Syria begged for a ceasefire but Israel denied their request (Six Days in June). Within hours, the Syrian army was destroyed and defeated by Israeli forces and Israel finally agreed to a ceasefire (Six Days in June).
After this great defeat and humiliation, the Arabs decide they have no choice but to agree to a cease fire (Six Days in June). Despite the rallying of the Arab world and passion that led to the war, the Arabs were incapable of defeating their enemy (Six Days in June).
When announcing the withdrawal and ceasefire, Nasser publicly blamed the United States for the Israeli victory (Six Days in June). The president claims that without their ally, Israel would have never defeated the great Arab forces and that it was not their fault that they had lost (Six Days in June). Nasser did not admit blame for the fact that he was informed that the information he received from the Soviet Union was false more than twenty-four hours prior to the war and that he could have pulled back (Six Days in June). Instead, he placed all the blame on the United States and resigned as president of Egypt (Six Days in June). There was great outrage in Egypt and many other Arab states after Nasser’s resignation as he is widely admired (Oren; Six Days in June). Nasser agreed to withdraw his resignation and remain in office only until Israelis left Arab territory (Six Days in June).
The war officially ended at 6pm on June 10th, Israel the official and undeniable victor (Stephens; Six Days in June). Before long, Israel already began making changes to the territories they gained during the war (Six Days in June). Israel began bulldozing houses in Jerusalem and changing the temples (Six Days in June). Israelis gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate what was perceived as a religious miracle, even by many secular Jews (Miller; Oren; Six Days in June). While the Israeli’s celebrated, Palestinians were devastated by the effects of the war as more of their land had been claimed by the Israelis (Six Days in June; Gera). During negotiations, post-war, Israel offered to give back the Sinai and the Golan in exchange for peace with Egypt and Syria (Six Days in June; Gera). They were also willing to negotiate over the West Bank if they could keep all of Jerusalem as their states capital (Six Days in June; Gera). Nasser viewed this agreement as a surrender and rejected the land for peace agreement (Six Days in June; Gera). The Arab world stood by what was called the Three No’s; no recognition of Israel, no negotiations and no peace (Six Days in June). Despite this mentality; Egypt surprised everyone when they signed a peace treaty with Israel in March 1978 (Gera). After almost eleven years, Egypt decided to make peace with their number one enemy (Gera). This was one positive consequence of the Six Day War out of many negative results (Gera). Egypt re-opened the Strait for Israel and allowed the free movement of goods after their peace deal (Gera). Egypt became a symbol of peace for the Arab world and a sign of hope that the Israeli and Arab worlds can in fact live in harmony despite great adversity (Gera).
The Six Day War was born out of both Arab and Jewish states ethnocentric views that ultimately prevented them from viewing the world from the others perspective (Johnston). Rather than negotiate, the two identities clashed with military conflict (Johnston). The Holy Land of Jerusalem has caused great controversy to the surrounding states and has resulted in the death of many (Six Days in June).  There have been many critiques on the motives of the Six Day War. Such critiques include how the United States may have participated to regain international respect after their enormous loss in Vietnam (Stephens). Another mystery is why the Soviet Union presented false information regarding Israel’s intentions to go to war with both Egypt and Syria (Lamm; Six Days in June).  Many believe the lies were motivated by the need for another indirect battle with the United States driven by Cold War antics (Lamm; Six Days in June).
After nearly fifty years, the Six Day war is over but the underlying conflict that led to its ignition remains. The Palestinian Liberation Organization exists for the same purpose as it did when it was founded in 1987 (Gera). The Palestinian people now have a seat in the United Nations and are recognized as a nation; however, they remain isolated and oppressed by the Israeli government (Gera). The Palestinian refugee problem remains as millions of Palestinians are displaced and living in extreme poverty and political unrest (Gera).
The Arab-Israeli war of 1967 lasted a mere six days but the overall impact of the war is overwhelming (Miller). Those six days were pivotal in the emergence of Israel and its legitimization as an independent state (Miller). The success of Israel solidified the Jewish people and allowed them security after years of fear from being threatened by Egyptian forces (Miller; Lamm; Oren). This war is also believed to be a defining moment in the movement towards radical Islam (Gera). As the presence of the United States increased as did its power in the middle east, Arabs became unhappy with their lack of power in their own region (Gera). The blame put on the United States for Israel’s victory by Nasser created animosity among the Arab people and heightened the popularity of radical Islamic movements (Gera). The aftershocks of this war continue to be felt globally through Palestinian refugees, Israel’s geographical growth and the anti-western world outlook in this region (Miller; Gera). It is without a question that the Six Day war of 1967 is one of the most definitive moments in Middle-Eastern history and the world.