6.1 The Suez Crisis and the 1967 Six-Day War

The Suez Crisis and Six-Day War were pivotal events in the Arab-Israeli conflict. These conflicts reshaped the Middle East, shifting power dynamics and territorial control in the region.

The Suez Crisis saw Egypt nationalizing the canal, leading to international conflict. The Six-Day War resulted in Israel's swift victory and territorial expansion, intensifying tensions and setting the stage for future conflicts.

Suez Crisis

Nasser's Nationalization and International Response

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• Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egyptian president, nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956 to fund the Aswan High Dam project
• Nationalization involved seizing control of the Suez Canal Company from British and French shareholders
• Western powers, particularly Britain and France, viewed this action as a threat to their economic and strategic interests
• Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis failed, leading to increased tensions in the region

Tripartite Aggression and Military Conflict

• Britain, France, and Israel formed a secret alliance to regain control of the Suez Canal
• Israel launched an invasion of the Sinai Peninsula on October 29, 1956, as part of the coordinated plan
• British and French forces intervened under the pretext of separating Egyptian and Israeli forces
• Anglo-French forces bombed Egyptian military targets and landed troops in the Canal Zone
• Egyptian forces were quickly overwhelmed, but international pressure mounted against the aggressors

Resolution and Consequences

• United States and Soviet Union condemned the invasion, putting pressure on Britain, France, and Israel to withdraw
• United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) deployed to maintain peace and supervise the withdrawal of foreign troops
• Britain and France withdrew their forces by December 1956, while Israel completed its withdrawal in March 1957
• Suez Crisis marked the decline of British and French influence in the Middle East
• Nasser emerged as a hero in the Arab world, boosting pan-Arab nationalism
• Crisis highlighted the growing influence of the United States and Soviet Union in the region

Six-Day War

Causes and Buildup to Conflict

• Tensions escalated between Israel and its Arab neighbors in the mid-1960s
• Syria increased support for Palestinian guerrilla attacks against Israel
• Egypt expelled UN peacekeepers from the Sinai Peninsula in May 1967
• Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, cutting off access to the port of Eilat
• Arab states mobilized their military forces along Israel's borders
• Israel launched a preemptive strike on June 5, 1967, initiating the Six-Day War

Military Operations and Territorial Gains

• Israeli Air Force destroyed most of the Egyptian air force in a surprise attack on the first day
• Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt within three days
• Israeli forces took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan
• Golan Heights seized from Syria on the final day of the war
• Israel's territorial gains tripled the size of land under its control
• War resulted in significant Arab military losses and a decisive Israeli victory

Aftermath and UN Resolution 242

• United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 242 on November 22, 1967
• Resolution called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in the recent conflict
• Emphasized the need for secure and recognized boundaries for all states in the region
• Affirmed the necessity of achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem
• Resolution became the basis for future peace negotiations between Israel and Arab states
• Interpretation of the resolution's wording remained contentious, particularly regarding the extent of Israeli withdrawal
• Six-Day War reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and intensified the Arab-Israeli conflict