Six-Day War

Definition

The Six-Day War was a brief but intense conflict fought between June 5 and June 10, 1967, primarily involving Israel and the neighboring Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The war resulted in a decisive victory for Israel, significantly altering the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and North Africa by expanding its territory and influencing future Arab-Israeli relations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Six-Day War began with a preemptive strike by Israel against Egyptian air forces, which led to rapid territorial gains for Israel.
2. Israel captured significant territories during the conflict, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.
3. The war resulted in a dramatic shift in military balance in the region, establishing Israel as a dominant military power.
4. The aftermath of the Six-Day War fueled Palestinian nationalism and intensified tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
5. The war set the stage for future peace negotiations and conflicts, significantly influencing the trajectory of Arab-Israeli relations for decades.

Review Questions

• How did the Six-Day War alter the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East?
  • The Six-Day War dramatically changed the geopolitical landscape by resulting in Israel's territorial expansion into areas previously held by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. This included crucial regions like the West Bank and Golan Heights. The swift victory by Israel shifted regional power dynamics, leading to increased tensions with neighboring Arab states and setting a new stage for future conflicts and negotiations.
• Discuss the implications of UN Resolution 242 following the Six-Day War on future Arab-Israeli relations.
  • UN Resolution 242 called for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories while emphasizing peace and security for all states in the region. Its implications were profound, as it laid the groundwork for future peace negotiations. However, differing interpretations of this resolution regarding what constitutes 'withdrawal' have fueled ongoing disputes between Israel and its Arab neighbors, showcasing the complexities of achieving lasting peace.
• Evaluate how the outcomes of the Six-Day War contributed to subsequent conflicts in the region, particularly considering events like the Yom Kippur War.
  • The outcomes of the Six-Day War set a precedent for future conflicts by establishing Israel as a military power but also sowing seeds of resentment among Arab nations. This tension contributed to the Yom Kippur War in 1973, where Egypt and Syria sought to regain lost territories. The cycle of conflict stemming from territorial disputes and nationalistic aspirations continued to complicate peace efforts, illustrating how pivotal events from the Six-Day War reverberated through subsequent years in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Related terms

UN Resolution 242: A United Nations resolution passed after the Six-Day War, calling for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict and emphasizing the right of all states to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries.

Golan Heights: A strategically important plateau that was captured by Israel from Syria during the Six-Day War, which remains a point of contention in Israeli-Syrian relations.

Yom Kippur War: A war fought in October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria, marking another significant conflict in the Arab-Israeli struggle that followed the Six-Day War.