Arab Israeli wars and their causes
The Arab Israeli wars have been a serious and significant chapter of modern history resulting due to prolonged conflict between the powers in the Middle East. These wars occurred between the Arab forces and the Israeli forces based outside the state of Palestine. In this article, we will study and discuss the cause, effect, and impact of the Arab Israeli wars timeline.
The War Of Independence Of Israel 1948-49
As per the United Nations Resolution 181, it voted for the partition of British mandate Palestine to form a Jewish state and an Arabian state. It brought down huge clashes maligning the contemporary situation of the existing country.
The Arabs and Jews immediately involved themselves in constant friction even before the British troops moved out of the country. After the troops left, the conflict escalated to take the shape of war. On 9th April 1948, an Arab village named Dayr Yasin was attacked by the Jewish forces and resulted in a massacre of Stern Gang, a Zionist extremist group, and Irgun Zvai Leumi, a right-wing underground organization.
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The forces then spread wildly resulting in retaliation and panic across the country. This is the first incident in the Arab Israeli wars timeline. Arabs retaliated by killing 78 people when a Jewish convoy was heading to Hadassah Hospital.
On 15th May 1948, Israel declared its independence. The very next day, the Arab forces Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria occupied the areas of eastern and southern Palestine. They also proceed to capture East Jerusalem and the Old City. They dictated their prime motive was to restore peace and order after the withdrawal of British forces. The Israelis gained control on the main road to Jerusalem that goes through Yehuda Mountains. A temporary frontier was designed and fixed after the agreement was signed between the Arab states and Israel.
Suez Crisis 1956
Gamal Abdel Nasser, the contemporary Egyptian President, took a staunch stance against Israel. He took control over the Suez Canal and made the British and French respond and strike a deal. Israeli ships were unable to use this canal that connects Europe and Asia. It then invaded Egypt and Britain and France had to intervene as peacemakers.
In 1956, the Israeli troops entered the Sinai Peninsula and within five days, they captured Gaza, Al Arish, and Rafah. They were in the ideal position to open sea communications once again via the Gulf of Aqaba. In March 1957, the Israeli forces retreated when an emergency force was sent by the UN due to the intervention of Britain and France. As per the Arab Israeli wars summary, even though the Egyptian army was defeated, it was considered as its win due to UN intervention.
Six-Day War 1967
Syria intensified its bombarding activities on Israeli villages in 1967 resulting in a war for 6 days from 5th June to 10 June. Six Syrian MiG jets were shot down by the Israeli Air Force which made Nasser march and dismiss the emergency army deployed in the Sinai border.
In May 1967, Egypt and Jordan signed a defense pact. Israel staged an air assault destroying the Egyptian Air Force and was victorious. The Israeli forces compelled the Syrian forces to go back and again took control of the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip. This Israel war history is quite important as the country took full control over Jerusalem.
Yom Kippur War 1973
Yom Kippur is a holy day celebrated in the Jewish calendar. On 6th October 1973, Israelis were caught by Syrian forces off guard in Golan Heights and Egyptian forces caught them in the Suez Canal. The Israelis suffered huge casualties as the Arab forces were more tactile and aggressive this time.
The fight lasted for a month during the holy month of Ramadan and the Israelis gained their control back on Suez Canal but in the formidable form they enjoyed previously. The fight eventually came to an end on 26th October and both sides signed a treaty for a cease-fire. Israel signed a treaty with Egypt on 11th November and with Syria on 31st May 1974.
A formal treaty was signed between Israel and Egypt to end this tension on 26th March 1979 and it existed for more than three decades. Israel also returned the Sinai Peninsula entirely to the Egyptian Government in 1978. Egypt also recognized the existence of Israel and respected it with diplomatic decisions in these years.
First Lebanon War 1982
As per the Arab Israeli wars summary, Israelis bombed Southern Lebanon and Beirut resulting in big friction. They wanted to destroy the Palestinian strongholds and invaded Lebanon. Later, they stopped advancing more into the country but continued shelling. It made the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leave the city. It ended in 1985 with the withdrawal of the Israeli forces.
Second Lebanon War 2006
The Second Lebanon War was initiated when Hezbollah launched an offensive operation to pressurize Israel for releasing the Lebanese prisoners. In retaliation, Israel too launched an offensive operation leading to more than 1000 Lebanese casualties and 1 million displaced population over a course of 34 days.
These are the causes and consequences of Arab Israeli war fought one after the other. It shows how conflicts arise and how they remain unresolved due to the non-cooperation of both sides. These pieces of events clearly depict the history of Israel and Palestine and how the people are suffering in both the countries.
FAQs on The History of Israeli Arab Wars
1. What are the fundamental reasons for the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict?
The conflict's roots are complex, stemming mainly from competing nationalist movements and territorial claims. Key factors include the rise of Zionism, a movement for a Jewish national home in Palestine, and the simultaneous rise of Arab nationalism, which viewed Palestine as Arab land. The 1947 UN Partition Plan, which proposed dividing the land, was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, setting the stage for the initial conflict.
2. Can you list the major wars that are part of the Arab-Israeli conflict?
The primary military conflicts are generally considered to be:
- The 1948 Arab-Israeli War (also known as Israel's War of Independence).
- The 1956 Suez Crisis, involving Israel, the UK, France, and Egypt.
- The 1967 Six-Day War, which significantly changed the region's borders.
- The 1973 Yom Kippur War (or Ramadan War).
- The 1982 Lebanon War and the 2006 Lebanon War.
3. What was the significance of the Six-Day War in 1967?
The Six-Day War was a major turning point. The most significant outcome was a major territorial change. Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. This dramatically reshaped the political and military map of the entire region and led to the long-term issue of occupied territories.
4. How did international superpowers influence the Arab-Israeli wars?
The conflict was heavily influenced by the Cold War. The United States became a strong ally of Israel, providing significant military and economic aid. In contrast, the Soviet Union largely supported and armed key Arab states like Egypt and Syria. This turned the regional conflict into a proxy battleground for the two global superpowers, often influencing the course and outcome of the wars.
5. Why was the Suez Canal so important in the 1956 conflict?
The Suez Canal is a vital artificial waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, creating the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia. Because of this, it has immense strategic and economic importance. In 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the canal, threatening British and French interests and blocking Israeli shipping. This act triggered the Suez Crisis, as control over the canal meant control over a major global trade artery.
6. What is the core difference between the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War?
The main difference lies in their initiation and impact. The Six-Day War (1967) was initiated by a surprise Israeli preemptive attack that led to a decisive and quick victory. In contrast, the Yom Kippur War (1973) began with a surprise attack by a coalition of Arab states, which initially caught Israel off guard. While Israel eventually repelled the attack, the initial Arab successes shattered the image of Israeli invincibility and eventually paved the way for peace negotiations.
7. Beyond territory, what were the main ideological factors contributing to the conflict?
Beyond the physical land, the conflict is fuelled by deep ideological beliefs. On one side is Zionism, the belief in the right to a Jewish national state in their ancestral homeland. On the other is Arab nationalism, which sees Palestine as an integral part of the Arab world. These competing national identities, along with religious claims to holy sites in places like Jerusalem, are central to understanding why the conflict has been so difficult to resolve.
