Middle East Conflict Purpose: to understand the causes, events and effects of the Six Day War, The Yom Kippur War, the Camp David Conferences and the rise of Arabic and Muslim hostilities

Review: The Creation of Israel What was the Balfour Declaration (1917)?

Why did the British sign the White Paper in 1939?

Review: Pan-Arab Nationalism Outline the platform of Nasser’s “Pan-Arabism”.

In what ways did the Suez Crisis set the stage for future conflict?

Conflict Timeline

The Six-Day War 1967 The Israel and the Arab countries had been in an official state of war since 1948. However, the first five months of 1967 brought an intensification of hostilities with the Egyptians moving troops into the Sinai and closing the shipping lanes, the Syrians shelling farms in the north, and terrorist attacks coming through all the borders. On June 5, 1967 Israel launched a pre-emptive strike on all fronts. After six days, the Israelis had conquered the Sinai, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. The “Yom Kippur” 1973 The Arabs struck back, easily rolling over Israel's Maginot-style line in the Sinai. War After three weeks or so, with heavy American support, the Israelis managed to cross the Suez into Egypt proper and were within 20 miles of Damascus before the US put a halt to the war. Sept 1978 The Camp David Accords created a “framework” for peace between Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Israel. Mar 1979 Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty, ending more than 30 years of war. Oct 6, Anwar Sadat assassinated by Islamic fundamentalists for his oppression of the 1981 group, the Muslim Brotherhood Israeli invasion of 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon and destroyed PLO infrastructure there. Lebanon Middle East Conflict Causes of the Six Day War Arab Perspective Israeli Perspective

Effects of the Six Day War  Buffer zone: In only 6 days, Israel had secured 3 times more territory than it had before in the Sinai Peninsula, West Bank and the Golan Heights  International involvement: UN Resolution 242 called on Israel to give up captured territories in return for recognition and peace with its Arab neighbours  Terrorism: the Palestinian Liberation Organization and other Palestinian groups increased guerrilla operations and began to use global terrorism, such as in the massacre of Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympic Games of 1972  Revenge: Egypt and Syria vowed revenge and would attack in 1973, an event known as the Yom Kippur War Effects of the Yom Kippur War 1. Initial Israeli defeat – Even though Egyptian forces were forced to pull back, Sadat’s successful surprise attack broke the invincibility myth that the Israeli forces could not be defeated; Sadat’s status increased among Arabs. 2. Economic ‘weapons’ – the OPEC nations attempted to lower oil production and increase prices to Western states such as the US and the Netherlands from 1973 to 1974 3. Increased international involvement –The US became increasingly involved after the war in order to stabilize the region 4. Chance for Peace: Both Israel and Egypt were more prepared to talk peace.  1975 Agreement in Geneva re-established Egyptian control of the east bank of the Suez Canal  1977 Sadat went to Jerusalem to offer peace and express his willingness to accept Israel’s existence  1978 Camp David Talks (with US President Carter present) established a framework for peace Camp David Agreement In September 1978, Sadat and Israeli PM Menachem Begin flew to Camp David to discuss a peace treaty, to be brokered by US president, Jimmy Carter. Egyptian Gains Israeli Gains

Unresolved Issues: The rise of Arabic and Islamic terrorism Despite the new-found peace, new conflicts arose between Arabic nations and Muslims, and between Arabic terrorists and Israel. 1981: Sadat was assassinated by members of the Muslim Brotherhood; their membership was heavily suppressed in Egypt. 1982: Syria forces massacred thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members and other Islamic militants in the town of Hama after the failure of an assassination attempt on President Hafez al-Assad. Late 1970s: The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Yasar Arafat started a terrorist campaign against Israel from its bases in Lebanon. 1978 and 1982: Israel launched a costly invasion of Lebanon to destroy PLO bases, further destabilizing that country in the middle of its civil war.