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Middle East Conflict Road to the 6-Day War

Middle East Conflict Road to the 6-Day War. 1956-67. Longterm Issues leading to 6-Day War. Unresolved Arab-Israeli Issues Israeli Economics & IR Cold War Issues Water Issues Inter-Arab Issues (Arab Divisions, Palestinian liberation movements). Unresolved Arab-Israeli Issues.

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Middle East Conflict Road to the 6-Day War

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  1. Middle East Conflict Road to the 6-Day War 1956-67

  2. Longterm Issues leading to 6-Day War • Unresolved Arab-Israeli Issues • Israeli Economics & IR • Cold War Issues • Water Issues • Inter-Arab Issues (Arab Divisions, Palestinian liberation movements)

  3. Unresolved Arab-Israeli Issues • Suez Crisis leaves underlying conflict unresolved • Israel out of Sinai, but UN Emergency Forces (UNEF) remain • Nasser has control of Suez Canal • Prevents intensity of fedayeen

  4. Israel After Suez • Israel back to 1949 lines (inset 1956-57) • Israel improves development of Negev through water • Trade through Gulf of Aqaba • Huge immigration helps economy • Mid 1960’s economic downturn magnified by attacks from Syria & in Golan Heights

  5. Arab Nationalism • Nasser still promoting Arab Renaissance • “Arab Freedom, Arab Socialism, Arab Unity” • Combo of private & public ownership

  6. Radical Arab Nationalism • Exemplified by Egypt & Syria, to some degree Yemen • United Arab Republic 1958 • Egypt maintained control, Syria’s large middle class didn’t like this, or the socialist tendencies • When Nasser tries to nationalize Syrian industry, Syria pulls out 1961

  7. British Cartoon Feb 1958

  8. Arab “moderates” • King Hussein of Jordan maintains a more moderate stance toward the West & Israel • Lebanon’s Maronite population keep them somewhat connected to the West • Iraq under Monarch Nuri al-Said (before Revolution of 58 ousts him for Qasim)

  9. Arab Cold War? • Division among Arabs • Conflict over having Nasser be “in charge” • Radical, armed aggression vs. moderate, negotiated settlement w/ Israel • USSR supports Syria, Egypt….US backs Israel, Lebanon

  10. Case Study of Inter-Arab Issues: Lebanon 1957-58 • Lebanon seen as anomaly in Arab world • Pro-west history; port for inland states; banking center for mid-East • Coalition gov’t w/ Christian Maronite (Camille Charoum) as head • Internal divisions not strictly along Christian-Muslim lines

  11. Cold War Enters Again.. • Egypt funding opposition groups; • Iraqi revolution ousts King Said for more radical leaders • Chamoun (Maronite leader) asks for Eisenhower’s Help • Brings in Superpower • Under Eisenhower Doctrine, the US intervenes • ….read… • SHOULD THE US HAVE INTERVENED? • Read Gaddis….

  12. US & Mid-East 50’s – 60’s • US deepens involvement in Mid-East • Supplies sympathetic Arab states – Jordan, Saudi Arabia • Israel demands arms from US to defend themselves from Arab states • US policy seems contradictory • Through 1960’s US sees Arab world as unstable- potential for USSR influence – (already there for Syria, Iraq, Egypt) • Leads to increasing focus on Israel

  13. Water Issues – Israel’s National Water Carrier • Israel & Syria clash over diverting water from headwaters of Jordan R • In 58, Jordan takes H2O from Yarmuk R, Israel from Lake Tiberias (Galilee)- reduces water for Jordan • Done in atmosphere of Is-Syrian conflict & border disputes • UN feels that Is skirts UN rules in order to incite Arab retaliation – justifying accusations of Arab hostility • Syria wants action against Israel NOW!

  14. Arab Response to water Issues 1964 • Arab Summit 1964 brings muted response • Avoids direct confrontation w/ Israel • Makes agreement w/ King Hussien of Jordan & King Faysal of Saudi Ar. • Peaceful mood among Arab states • UNTIL….

  15. Palestinian Question Revived 1964 • Not all Arab leaders agreed on the importance of the Palestinian issue • Nasser in support of Palestinian cause so that he could control it • Nasser doesn’t want to be brought into Eg-Is conflict (unless he’s ready) • Syria (now tense W/ Egypt b/c of UAR breakup in 62) accusing

  16. PLO 1964 – Ahmad al-Shuquayri Egyptian-influenced; recruited from refugee camps all over Arab world Claimed the territory of West Bank (Jordan controlled) and Israel as Palestinian Jordan sees them as threat; Syria sees them as too tame Fatah 1958 – Salah Khalaf, Khalil al-Wizer, Yasir Arafat Gaza/Cairo roots, Syria-backed Free Palestine before Arab unity could happen Philosophy changed according to circumstance by 1965 focus on attacking military installations and terrorism to bring Arab-Israeli tension Arab unity in the face of common enemy PLO vs. FATAH

  17. Fatah & Syria • First Fatah raids on water installations (& in revenge for Israeli attacks on Syrian water installations) • Unclear to Israel if Fatah backed by Jordan or Syria – attacks from Jordanian territory • Jordan gets stuck between Israeli’s and Syrians – unable to stop Fatah raids

  18. Immediate Causes of 6-Day War - Rhetoric • Increasing rhetoric against Israel • Syrian Pres. Nureddin al-Attassi declares support for Palestinian war of liberation

  19. Cause #2: Syrian – Israeli Attacks • DMZ in Golan Heights • Fatah attacks mount • Israel threatens major retaliatory raid if attacks don’t stop

  20. Cause #3: Egyptian Actions - Blockade • Nasser gets false info from USSR that Israel is putting troops along Syrian frontier – he believes it • Sends Egyptian troops to Sinai (May 14) • Withdraws UNEF from Sinai • Blockaded Straits of Tiran; took over Sharm al-Shaykh • USSR officially urging restraint, but Nasser thinks USSR supports him

  21. Israel Prepares Attacks • Prime Minister Eshkol appeals to US for backing • US urges wait; tries to open Straits through diplomatic means • Israeli Generals attack Eshkol as weak • June 4 Defense Minister Moshe Dayan’s plan to attack is approved PM: Levi Eshkol

  22. 6-Day War in Sinai

  23. http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=s8qBMm5Aeq8&feature=related

  24. Results: • Questions remain as to why Egypt closed straits of Tiran giving Israel legal justification to attack • New Territory for Israel includes: West Bank, Golan Heights, Sinai, & Jerusalem • Israel evicts 600 Muslim residents from Magrebhi Quarter, razes the area • 100,000+ Palestinian refugees move from W. Bank to E. bank of Jordan

  25. Longer-term results • USSR cuts diplomatic relations with Israel • Palestinian liberation organizations expand and proliferate • Israel has extreme sense of power • Arab states cut ties w/ US – Egy.,Sy, Iraq, Sud., Alg, & Yemen • UN Resolution 242 creates confusion in negotiations

  26. UN Resolution 242 Read the resolution How do you interpret the reading? Which should come first, peace negotiations or a return of captured territory?

  27. Conclusion • Use of Palestinians by different Arab countries feuled conflict • Backing (or percieved backing) by superpowers fueled conflict • Concrete issues (water) fuel conflict • Longstanding issues (recognition of Israel) fuel conflict • No Resolution of underlying conflict • No proposal for Palestinian issue

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