Transcript Day One Invasion

Day One Invasion
• Who: Israel; Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
• What: The Arab countries talked about the invasion, so it was not a
surprise. Israel was ready, and defeated the 5 invaders.
• When: 1947 – 1948
• Where: Israel was invaded from the South by Egypt, from the East by
Jordan and Iraq, and from the North by Lebanon and Syria.
• Why: Arab countries rejected the agreement, and declared support for
the Palestinian cause. They felt it was unfair for Palestinians to give up so
much land to the smaller and mostly foreign group.
• How: Israel won in convincing fashion. Israel ended up with more land
than the UN plan had given them, and the country of Palestine did not
exist. The remaining Palestinian land was divided into two areas, the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip. Jordan was forced to govern the West Bank (and
Jerusalem), and Egypt was forced to govern Gaza. Israel had won it’s
independence, but it had also created bitter enemies who would not let
this defeat stand.
Day One Invasion
Proposed Partition (UN 181)
Armistice 1949
Suez War
• Who: Egypt; France, Great Britain, Israel
• What: Egypt had nationalized the canal and restricted ships going to or
from Israel from traveling through the canal. The British especially were
bitter about losing control of the canal, and were looking for an excuse to
re-ente the area.
• When: 1956
• Where: Sinai Peninsula, Suez canal region.
• Why: The British and the French wanted to increase their influence in the
region, Israel wanted to eliminate the Egyptian offensive positions in the
Sinai and Gaza.
• How: The invaders dominated, and the UN eventually stepped in placing
peace-keeping troops around the canal and the Sinai. The US was furious
at Britain and France for the aggression, and condemned the plan. British
and French influence in the Middle East was weakened, and Nasser was
looked at as a hero, even though his forces had lost the fighting, because
the UN had sided with Egypt. Israel won the fighting, but suffered a blow
in the international community.
Suez War
• Israeli troops
routed Egyptian
troops in the
Sinai.
• One of Israel’s
main objectives
was ending the
blockade of the
Gulf of Aqaba.
The Six Day War
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Who: Israel; Egypt, Jordan, Syria
What: Nasser had throw UN peace-keeping troops out of the Sinai. Nasser and other Arab
leaders were continually talking about reversing the injustice of 1948. Nasser had again
closed the canal and the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping. War seemed inevitable.
When: 1967
Where: Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jerusalem, Golan Heights
Why: Nasser saw himself as the leader of the Arab world, but the Arab defeat by Israel in
1948 was a black cloud that hung over him, and all Arab leaders.
How: Israel, knowing that war was inevitable, launched a surprise attack. They were wildly
successful, routing the other countries in six days. Israel now occupied Gaza, the Sinai
Peninsula, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
How: By occupying the West Bank and Gaza, Israel inherited a new problem; governing the
Palestinians. Always a hated enemy of the Palestinians, now they became an oppressive,
occupying power.
How: Israel also occupied the Golan Heights, which had previously been a part of Syria. Prior
to, and during the fighting, Syria had used this high ground for rocket attacks on towns in
Northern Israel. Israel took this ground to increase it’s own security. This occupation is still a
sore spot in Israeli / Syrian relations.
How: Israel also occupied Jerusalem, and quickly moved to make Jerusalem it’s capitol.
Palestinian leaders today say when there is peace, Jerusalem must be their capitol city,
something Israeli leaders obviously will not agree to.
Six Day War
• Golan Heights (taken
from Syria
• West Bank and
Jerusalem (taken from
Jordan
• Gaza and the Sinai
(taken from Egypt)
Yom Kippur War
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Who: Israel; Egypt and Syria
What: Anwar Sadat succeeded Nasser, and immediately talked of regaining the
land lost in 1967. Syria had also been complaining about the loss of the Golan
Heights. UN Resolution 242 condemned Israel’s taking of land in 1967, and
recommended a return to the pre-1967 borders; something Israel refused to do.
When: 1973
Where: Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights
Why: This was a last-ditch effort by the Egyptians and the Syrians to save face and
reverse the defeats at the hands of Israel. Using the Israeli model of a surprise
attack (like 1967) they hoped to gain a quick advantage and either win the fighting
or be in position to negotiate an advantageous settlement.
How: Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on the Jewish holy
day of Yom Kippur. After some early successes, Israel eventually turned the tide
and defeated Egypt and Syria again.
How: This defeat effectively ends the dream of Palestinian statehood through
military actions taken by the neighboring Arab countries. Palestinians now look
internally for future statehood, and the PLO is formed. In 1976 Palestine (under
the leadership of the PLO) is added to the Arab League, even though they do not
have a state.
Yom Kippur War
• Small gains were
made by the
Egyptians
• The Syrians only lost
more land and
prestige
Lebanon War
• Who: Lebanon and Israel
• What: Lebanon’s government collapsed in 1975, and a three-party civil
war was fought in Lebanon until 1990. More than 300,000 Palestinian
refugees lived in Southern Lebanon by 1975. The PLO had a huge
influence on the civil war, and on Lebanese affairs in general. The PLO
frequently launched attacks on Israeli towns and military units from
Southern Lebanon.
• When: 1982 – 1985 (complete withdrawal in 2000)
• Where: Southern Lebanon
• Why: Israel could not turn to the Lebanese Government to secure the
border, so it invaded to secure the border on its terms. Israel believed it
was better for its army to fight the PLO on PLO turf rather than continue to
let the PLO attack Israeli soil.
• How: Israel was condemned by many countries for the invasion, but
considered the action a success in weakening the PLO and its offensive
capabilities. The resentment in Lebanon was huge, and it gave rise to the
influence of Hezbollah, and Iranian/Syrian group whose chief goal is the
destruction of Israel.
Lebanon War
• Israel’s
occupation
extended to
the edge of
Beirut, the
capitol city.
Hezbollah War
• Who: Hezbollah (in Lebanon) and Israel
• What: Hezbollah filled the power void in Southern Lebanon after the PLO
was defeated in 1985. Hezbollah routinely carried out operations against
IDF units in Northern Israel and the Golan Heights.
• When: 2006
• Where: Southern Lebanon, Northern Israel
• Why: Hezbollah wanted to capture Israeli soldiers to it could exchange
them for Hezbollah / Lebanese prisoners held in Israel. Hezbollah
ambushed an IDF patrol and took 2 wounded soldiers prisoner. Israel
retaliated by invading Lebanon in an effort to recover the captured
soldiers.
• How: Hezbollah fired rockets on Israeli cities as far South as Haifa, and
struck Israeli warships off the coast of Lebanon. Israel responded with
airstrikes at Hezbollah targets and strongholds throughout Lebanon.
• How: Hezbollah effectively fought the vaunted IDF to a draw. Israel
ultimately withdrew from Lebanon. However, the government of Lebanon
took an aggressive stand against Hezbollah, and has begun to disarm and
remove Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.
Hezbollah War
• As you can see,
Israel’s retaliation
was far reaching,
and some say
disproportionate to
the actions of
Hezbollah