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Egypt and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Wars between states. The Basic Situation. Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip and shared a long border with Israel Jordan integrated the West Bank into itself Syria shared a short but poorly defined border with Israel
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Egypt and the Arab-Israeli conflict Wars between states
The Basic Situation • Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip and shared a long border with Israel • Jordan integrated the West Bank into itself • Syria shared a short but poorly defined border with Israel • Egypt is the “hegemonic” regional power threatened (in different ways) by Israel, Syria, and Saudi Arabia
1952 Revolution • LAND REFORM IN SEPTEMBER 1952 AND ARMY’S PROMISE TO LIQUIDATE FEUDALISM AND COLONIALISM • COLLAPSE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MONARCHY AND CLOSEST ALLY OF BRITAIN IN THE REGION
Nasser Searches for independence • 1954 – Nasser at Bandung • 1955 – Czech arms deal; rejection of the Baghdad Pact • 1956 – Nationalization of Suez Canal
1956 War • October 29 – Israel invades Sinai • November 5 – Anglo-French invasion • December 22 – Anglo-French withdrawal • Nasser wins a dramatic political victory despite military defeat
Republicanism victorious • February 1958 – creation of United Arab Republic • July 1958 – the Iraqi revolution • July 1961 – Egypt moves further toward socialism
And the turning point • September 1961 – Syria withdraws from UAR • 1962-1967 – the “Arab Cold War” • 1962 – the republican coup in Yemen and “Nasser’s Vietnam”
The Problem for Nasser • Challenges to his leadership • Fatah incursions into Israel • Syrian claims to revolutionary leadership • The domestic threat of the Muslim Brothers • Saudi opposition to Arab nationalism • Islamic or Arab solidarity? • Oil as a factor in international politics
Throwing the Dice - 1967 • May 14 1967 – Egyptian troops into Sinai • May 16 – Request for UNEF to leave • May 21 – Closure of Straits of Tiran to Israeli-bound shipping • May 30 – King Husayn of Jordan signs a joint defense pact
War • Israeli war strategy makes waiting impossible • Fighting broke out with Israeli attacks on Egyptian air bases, obliterating the airforce • With no air cover the Egyptian ground forces—mainly conscripts—were destroyed • Within 6 days Israel had occupied Sinai, the West Bank, and Golan
Outcome • Egypt now had renewed foreign occupation • Jordan had lost its most populous and productive region • Israel emerged as the regional strategic power • Israel now controlled all of the territory of Mandatory Palestine
Collapse of the Arab states • Nasser briefly resigns • A new leader emerges in Damascus • The Khartoum declaration • No negotiation • No withdrawal without recognition of Palestinians • Resolution of Egyptian-Saudi conflicts on Saudi terms
Space for the PLO • The military defeat of the Arab states opens the door to the PLO • Strengthens Palestinian resolve not to trust the Arab states • The Palestinian issue becomes a more important symbol for Arab states even as they realize how dangerous it is