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Group: Batavian Republic
People: Wang Lei
Topic: Six-Day War

Six-Day War

Years: 1967 - 1967

The Six-Day War, also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the Third Arab-Israeli War, Six Days' War, also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the Third Arab-Israeli War, Six Days' War, an-Naksah (The Setback), or the June War, is fought between Israel and Arab neighbors Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.

The nations of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Algeria also contribute troops and arms to the Arab forces.In May 1967, Egypt expels the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) from the Sinai Peninsula, which has been stationed there since 1957 (following the 1956 Sinai invasion to allow for a free Suez Canal) to provide a peace-keeping buffer zone.

In reaction to Israeli-Syrian tensions, Egypt amasses 1000 tanks and 100,000 soldiers on the border, closes the Straits of Tiran to all ships flying Israeli flags or carrying strategic materials, and calls for unified Arab action against Israel.

In response, on June 5, 1967, Israel launches a pre-emptive attack against Egypt's air force.

Jordan, having signed a mutual defense treaty with Egypt on May 30, now attacks western Jerusalem and Netanya.

At the war's end, Israel has gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

The results of the war affect the geopolitics of the region to this day.

“History is important. If you don't know history it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anybody up there in a position of power can tell you anything, and you have no way of checking up on it.”

—Howard Zinn, You Can't Be Neutral ... (2004)