Background

• After 1956 UN troops manned Egyptian/Israeli border, Nasser sought to assert leadership in Arab world; 1964 Arab world leaders met in Cairo formalised their policy of destroying Israel
• 1964; Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) formed, led by Yasser Arafat, including paramilitary Fatah, Syria encouraged Fatah’s raids into Israel
• 1966; New Syrian government attempted to push Nasser to war (he felt Arab world was too weak), Nasser restrained Syria by signing defence treaty
• Week after, mine exploded on Israel-Jordan border, 3 Israeli soldiers dead; retaliated with massive attack on Jordanian village; 15 Jordanian soldiers and 3 civilians killed, over 100 houses destroyed
• 1966-7; Violence on Syria-Israeli border: Israeli military leaders provokes Syria so they could retaliate; on 7 April 1967, Israeli tractor ploughed land in demilitarised zone and Syrians opened fire, Israelis fired back

  • Syrians shelled Israeli settlements, Israeli tanks went into action but could not reach all positions Syrians had been firing
  • Israeli planes were called up, intercepted by Syrian fighter planes; 6 Syrian planes were shot down, 2 over Syrian capital, Israeli planes roared low over Syrian capital
• May 1967: Israel issued several threats to act against Syria unless it stopped supporting Palestinian attacks on Israel, 12th, Israeli general threatened occupation
• 24th: Syrian defence minister challenged Israelis, Israel wanted US support before war, told they wouldn't be alone if attacked but will be if they act offensively
• Nasser insisted Palestinian refugees return to Israel and signed a defense pact with King Hussein of Jordan, Israeli try again to secure US assistance 31st
• 5th June Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan ordered his air force to attack surrounding Arab States (bombed air forces) - Began conflict
• USSR told Egypt Israeli troops gathered on Syrian border (false, Nasser knew) 13 May, Nasser intended to deter Israel and impress Arab public (he called weak):

  • 15th: Moved 100,000 Egyptian troops to Sinai Peninsula; Israel had more troops but were alarmed as Egyptian troops were closer
  • Asked UN to remove troops, UN proposed they move to Israeli side but Israelis refused, so UN troops withdrew
  • 22nd: Closed Straits of Tiran; led to Gulf of Aqaba, Israel said US, France and Britain 'guaranteed' it for free passage to all shipping 1957 and Nasser's action was aggressive so self-defence is fair