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Yom Kippur War 1973

Yom Kippur War 1973. divided opinions on the merits of occupation of Palestinian/Arab lands small Israeli Communist Party demanded withdrawal; Ben Gurion saw disadvanteges to continued ocupation

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Yom Kippur War 1973

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  1. Yom Kippur War 1973 • divided opinions on the merits of occupation of Palestinian/Arab lands • small Israeli Communist Party demanded withdrawal; Ben Gurion saw disadvanteges to continued ocupation • the Zionist right viewed the gains in territory as serving to secure Israel’s borders

  2. Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews viewed occupied lands as part of ancient Israel • religious zealots began to form settlements in the West Bank • settlement question led to policy differences between Israel’s Labor Party and the Zionists

  3. carrot and stick policies adopted by israel’s government in West Bank and Gaza • degree of local self government permitted - PLO made some gains in municipal elections • economy in West Bank benefited; Palestinians crossed the border into Israel to find work - 1/3 of Palestinian workforce by 1973

  4. Israel’s isolation in the Middle East led to greater dependence on the U.S. • ruthless measures adopted by Israel in dealing with attacks by fedayeen elements • curfews, detention without trial, bulldozing of houses and pre-emptive strikes against neighboring states - Lebanon, Jordan • confrontation between IDF and Jordanian/PLA/Fatah forces at village of Karama • claimed as victory for Arab forces - strengthened Palestinian position in Jordan

  5. in 1971 Ariel Sharon led a successful campaign in Gaza • mass detentions, destruction of houses/buildings, end to Palestinian self-government • security gains for Israel, but lagacy of hatred • Israel also conducted attacks against Palestinian camps in southern Lebanon; Fatah headquarters in Beirut - 1973 • also targeted assassination of Fatah leadership

  6. following the Six-Day War Yasser Arafat emerged as the dominant figure in the PLO • mixed assessments on Arafat’s tenure as leader - charismatic, but ineffective • goal of PLO - secular, democratic state in Palestine; nation-building in Gaza and West bank; ‘external operations’ against israel and its supporters • large and diverse number of fedayeen groups operating in the name of the PLO

  7. Arafat’s Fatah group largest in PLO • in 1972 ‘Black September’ fedayeen were responsible for the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich • Israel responded with attacks aginst Fatah positions in Lebanon and Syria • other groups competed with the PLO - PFLP and DFLP

  8. the PFLP, founded by George Habash, targeted Israel and its ‘imperialist’ allies • hijackings of El AL and TWA planes; bombings in Jerusalem and London • Israeli reprisals • actions did not advance Palestinian cause, but did maintain focus on their plight

  9. tensions between the Palestinians and the government of King Hussein of Jordan culminated in the ‘Black September’ episode of 1970 • Palestinians in Jordan had been resented for the threat they posed to Hussein’s rule and the problems they created for Jordanian citizens • Hussein increased attacks on Palestinian fedayeen • assassination attempts against Hussein

  10. in September 1970, following further provocations, Hussein imposed martial law • civil war irrupted- Syria supported the PLO; Iraq supported Hussein • thousands died in fighting, but Hussein’s forces victorious • Palestinians fighters forced out of Jordan, many fled to Lebanon

  11. Between the Wars • 1968 - 1970 fighting escalated along the border between Egypt and Israel (War of Attrition) • armistice agreed in 1970 • in the same year Nasser died and was replaced by Anwar Sadat • a pragmatist, he sought to improve Egypt’s economy and secure peace with Israel

  12. his peace proposal offered to Golda Meir, Israeli PM, was rejected • under Nixon, the U.S. significantly increased its military aid to Israel • Kissinger persuaded the Soviet Union to accept the status quo in the Middle East • angered by this, Sadat ordered the expulsion of Soviet military advisors • Soviets now provided greater support for Assad’s Syria

  13. Sadat and Assad now formed a military alliance and prepared for war • the Arab countries were well- armed and had the advantage of surprise • 6 Oct. 1973 Jewish Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) the Arab attack commenced • in the first phase Arabs advaced on the Golan Heights and across the Suez Canal

  14. initial success on the Golan and Suez fronts - Israeli losses included 500 tanks • Sadat ready for peace; Assad’s Syria wanted to push ahead • the Nixon administration ordered the immediate shipment of $2.2 billion of military equipment and weapons • tide began to turn in the Sinai; Soviet military aid failed to bolster the Arab attack • Gen. Sharon crossed the Suez Canal • ceasefire agreed

  15. Aftermath • Yom Kippur War viewed as political victory for Arabs and Sadat • Arabs only defeated by Israel and U.S. combined? • war led to political changes in Israel - Meir resigned as PM, succeeded by Yitzhak Rabin • oil embargo against U.S. and cut of 25% in production • dramatic increase in oil prices - world recession • U.N. Resolution 338 repeated ‘land for peace’ principle • Palestinian Question still not addressed

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