Six-Day War

Definition

The Six-Day War was a brief but pivotal conflict fought in June 1967 between Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. It resulted in a decisive Israeli victory, leading to significant territorial gains for Israel and fundamentally altering the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader Middle Eastern geopolitics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Six-Day War began on June 5, 1967, and lasted until June 10, resulting in Israel capturing the Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula.
2. Israel's preemptive air strikes destroyed a significant portion of the Egyptian Air Force, giving Israel air superiority throughout the conflict.
3. The war significantly altered the demographic landscape of the region, with many Palestinians living under Israeli military rule following the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
4. The outcome of the war led to heightened tensions in Arab-Israeli relations and increased support for Palestinian nationalism and resistance movements.
5. The territorial gains made by Israel during the Six-Day War set the stage for future peace negotiations, as well as ongoing disputes over land and sovereignty.

Review Questions

• How did the Six-Day War shape the future relationship between Israel and its neighboring Arab countries?
  • The Six-Day War drastically shifted relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors by establishing Israel as a dominant military power in the region. The territorial gains from this war heightened Arab fears and animosity towards Israel, leading to further conflicts such as the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The post-war environment also laid groundwork for future peace negotiations, though tensions over occupied territories continued to exacerbate hostilities.
• Discuss the impact of the Six-Day War on Palestinian identity and nationalism.
  • The aftermath of the Six-Day War played a crucial role in shaping Palestinian identity and nationalism. With Israel occupying key territories like the West Bank and Gaza Strip, many Palestinians became increasingly aware of their national identity as they experienced displacement and military rule. This led to a rise in organized resistance movements, such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which aimed to assert Palestinian rights and sovereignty in response to Israeli control over their lands.
• Evaluate how the outcomes of the Six-Day War influenced subsequent peace initiatives in the Middle East.
  • The results of the Six-Day War significantly influenced later peace initiatives by changing power dynamics and territorial considerations in the region. The acquisition of territory prompted international efforts to broker peace agreements, including UN Resolution 242 that called for Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands. The war also set a precedent for negotiation strategies, such as those seen in the Camp David Accords, as countries like Egypt sought to regain territory lost during the conflict while recognizing Israel's right to exist.

Related terms

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

Yom Kippur War: A conflict that took place in October 1973 when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, seeking to reclaim territories lost in the Six-Day War.

Camp David Accords: A series of agreements between Egypt and Israel brokered by the United States in 1978, resulting in Egypt recognizing Israel and Israel withdrawing from the Sinai Peninsula, which had been captured during the Six-Day War.