2. Six Day War

Question 1

What was Fatah (5)

Answer 1

• Formed in 1950s
• Aimed to provide leadership for the Palestinians forced out of Palestine in 1947-9
• Carried out low level guerrilla attacks
• Leading member was Yasser Arafat
• It emerged as the largest Palestinian political faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization

Question 2

Longer term cause of the Six Day War: (3)

Answer 2

• Creation of the PLO in 1964 - was made to create a Palestinian state
• Cross border attacks by Fedayeen - from Syria, Jordan and Egypt
• Israeli vulnerability - existed for 20 years, still a small country surrounded by hostile arab states: perpetual state of tension and conflict

Question 3

Mid-short term causes of the Six Day War (2)

Answer 3

• Aggressive rhetoric/”brinkmanship” - both sides wanted to assert dominance/push the boundaries without starting war
• 1966: mutual defence pact between Syria and Egypt: followed by Syria attacks on Israel and Israel attacks on Jordan (Samu, West Bank)

Question 4

Good example: Samu incident (4)

Answer 4

• In response to a Fatah mine attack which killed 3 Israeli men on the West Bank border
• It was a large cross-border assault on the Jordanian-controlled village of Samu in the West Bank
• Israel mobilised an attack of around 3000-4000 soldiers, supported by tanks and aircraft.
• They destroyed many buildings in the In Jordan, and 18 people died and 54 people were wounded.

Question 5

Shorter causes of the Six Day War: (3)

Answer 5

• Withdrawal of UNEF (May 1967) - a military and peacekeeping operation established by the United Nations after the Suez War
• False soviet intelligence: indicated that Israel were planning campaign against Syria
• 22 May - closing of the Strait of Tiran

Question 6

What triggered the war: (1)

Answer 6

• Pre-emptive air strke against Egygtian, Syrian and Jordanian airfields

Question 7

5 June (4)

Answer 7

• Pre-emptive air assult destroying more than 90% of Egyptian air forces
• Similar attack against Syria
• Jordanian forces began shelling West Jerusalem
• Israeli troops advanced into Gaza Strip and Sinai Desert

Question 8

6 June (2)

Answer 8

• Captured Gaza strip and all of Sinai Peninsula
• Got up to East bank of the Suez canal

Question 9

7 June (2)

Answer 9

• Israeli forces drove Jordanian forces from East Jerusalem and most of West Bank
• Israel and Jordan accepted UN ceasefire

Question 10

8 June (3)

Answer 10

• Egypt accepted the ceasefire
• israeli forces won control of all of the West Bank and River of Jordan
• Israeli forces claim Hebron

Question 11

9 June (2)

Answer 11

• Syria continued to bomb villages in northern Israel
• Israel captured Golan Heights from Syria

Question 12

10 June (2)

Answer 12

• Syria accept the ceasefire
• Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and West Bank now belong to Israel

Question 13

Why did Israel win: (2)

Answer 13

• Pre-emptive strike destroyed Egyptian air (135 fighters + entire bomber force) and tank support - left ground forces vulnerable + 22 Jordanian and 55 Syrian planes were destroyed
• Speed of Israel assult - was able to make both Egypt and Jordan accept a ceasefire with 3 days so it could divert all its attention to Syria

Question 14

Israeli consequences (3)

Answer 14

• Managed to triple its size - regained East Jerusalem
• Increased security - buffer zones: Golan Heights, West Bank, Sinai
• Emerged as the strongest power in the region

Question 15

Consequences for region (3)

Answer 15

• Israel gaining territories (Gazam West Bank, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights) meant there were 1 million Palestinian Arabs living in Israel
• Soviet support for cause increased
• Pan-Arabism declined