ISRAEL’S SIX DAY WAR IN SYRIAISRAEL’S SIX DAY WAR IN SYRIA

LECTURE OUTCOMESLECTURE OUTCOMES

The students can:The students can: discover six-day war in Syria.discover six-day war in Syria. See the devastating effects war in See the devastating effects war in

Syria’s history.Syria’s history.

ISRAEL’S SIX DAY WAR IN ISRAEL’S SIX DAY WAR IN SYRIASYRIA

Land Taken During Six-Day WarLand Taken During Six-Day War

Anticipating an Arab invasion, Israel Anticipating an Arab invasion, Israel attacked and defeated its Arab attacked and defeated its Arab neighbors in the Six-Day War of neighbors in the Six-Day War of 1967. 1967.

After the war, Israel continued to After the war, Israel continued to occupy several of the areas it had occupy several of the areas it had captured, including the West Bank captured, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip.and Gaza Strip.

Land Taken During Six-Day WarLand Taken During Six-Day War

In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew its In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops and settlements from Gaza but troops and settlements from Gaza but continued to control its borders and continued to control its borders and airspace.airspace.

© Microsoft Corporation. All Rights © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.Reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Six-DaySix-Day

WarWarAdd To WorkspaceEncyclopædia Britannica ArticleEncyclopædia Britannica Article

also called  June War  or  Third Arab-Israeli also called  June War  or  Third Arab-Israeli War War 

brief war that took place June 5–10, 1967, brief war that took place June 5–10, 1967, and was the third of the and was the third of the Arab-Israeli wars. .

Israel's decisive victory included the capture 's decisive victory included the capture of the of the Sinai Peninsula, , Gaza Strip, , West Bank, Old City of , Old City of Jerusalem, and the , and the Golan Heights; the status of these territories ; the status of these territories subsequently became a major point of subsequently became a major point of contention in the Arab-Isrcontention in the Arab-Israeli conflict.aeli conflict.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

Prior to the start of the war, attacks Prior to the start of the war, attacks conducted against Israel by fledgling conducted against Israel by fledgling Palestinian guerrilla groups based in Palestinian guerrilla groups based in Syria, , Lebanon, and , and Jordan had had increased, leading to costly Israeli increased, leading to costly Israeli reprisalsreprisals (violent revenge because (violent revenge because of what they have done to you).of what they have done to you).

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

In November 1966 an Israeli strike on In November 1966 an Israeli strike on the village of Al-Samūʿ in the the village of Al-Samūʿ in the Jordanian Jordanian West Bank left 18 dead left 18 dead and 54 wounded, and, during an air and 54 wounded, and, during an air battle with Syria in April 1967, the battle with Syria in April 1967, the Israeli Air Force shot down six Syrian Israeli Air Force shot down six Syrian MiG fighter jets. fighter jets.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

In addition, In addition, Soviet intelligence intelligence reports in May indicated that Israel reports in May indicated that Israel was planning a punitive military was planning a punitive military campaign against Syria, and, campaign against Syria, and, although inaccurate, the information although inaccurate, the information further heightened tensions between further heightened tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours.Israel and its Arab neighbours.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

Egyptian president Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser had previously had previously come under sharp criticism for his come under sharp criticism for his failure to aid Syria and Jordan against failure to aid Syria and Jordan against Israel; he had also been accused of Israel; he had also been accused of hiding behind the United Nations hiding behind the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) stationed at Emergency Force (UNEF) stationed at Egypt's border with Israel in the Egypt's border with Israel in the Sinai. Sinai.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

Now, however, he moved to Now, however, he moved to unambiguously demonstrate support for unambiguously demonstrate support for Syria: on May 14, 1967, Nasser mobilized Syria: on May 14, 1967, Nasser mobilized Egyptian forces in the Egyptian forces in the Sinai; on May 18 ; on May 18 he formally requested the removal of the he formally requested the removal of the UNEF stationed there; and on May 22 he UNEF stationed there; and on May 22 he closed the closed the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli to Israeli shipping, thus instituting an effective shipping, thus instituting an effective blockade of the port city of blockade of the port city of Elat in in southern Israel. southern Israel.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

On May 30, King Ḥussein of Jordan On May 30, King Ḥussein of Jordan arrived in Cairo to sign a mutual arrived in Cairo to sign a mutual defense pact with Egypt, placing defense pact with Egypt, placing Jordanian forces under Egyptian Jordanian forces under Egyptian command; shortly thereafter, Iraq command; shortly thereafter, Iraq too joined the alliance.too joined the alliance.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

In response to the apparent mobilization of In response to the apparent mobilization of its Arab neighbours, early on the morning of its Arab neighbours, early on the morning of June 5, Israel staged a sudden preemptive June 5, Israel staged a sudden preemptive air assault and destroyed Egypt's air force air assault and destroyed Egypt's air force on the ground; later that day, it on the ground; later that day, it incapacitated a great deal of the Jordanian incapacitated a great deal of the Jordanian and Syrian air power as well.and Syrian air power as well.

Without cover from the air, the Arab armies Without cover from the air, the Arab armies were left vulnerable to attack, and, as a were left vulnerable to attack, and, as a result, the Israeli victory on the ground was result, the Israeli victory on the ground was also overwhelming.also overwhelming.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

. By the time the United Nations . By the time the United Nations cease-fire came into effect on June cease-fire came into effect on June 10, Israeli units had driven Syrian 10, Israeli units had driven Syrian forces back from the Golan Heights, forces back from the Golan Heights, taken control of the Gaza Strip and taken control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and driven Jordanian forces from the driven Jordanian forces from the West Bank. West Bank.

Notably, the Israelis were left in sole Notably, the Israelis were left in sole control of Jerusalem. control of Jerusalem.

ISRAEL/SYRIA Six-DayISRAEL/SYRIA Six-Day

The warfare resulted in the creation The warfare resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of refugees of hundreds of thousands of refugees and brought more than one million and brought more than one million Palestinians in the occupied Palestinians in the occupied territories under Israeli rule.territories under Israeli rule.