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The Arab-Israeli Wars

Modern Middle East

Fall 2002

Israeli Problems

� First people never thought the new state of Israel had a chance.

� So after the Jewish Agency declared their independence on May, 18, 1948, it seemed that the new state would be crushed.

� The Israelis faced a crisis since the Israelis since they had three military arms.

� But out of this milieu came the IDF.

Status of Forces

� The Arab forces were smaller than expected.

� Egypt held back most of their troops.

� Others, like Saudi Arabia, had promised to send more troops, but failed to do so.

� None of the Arab states could match the �lan of the Israelis.

� Early in the fighting, the Israelis had to depend upon superior fighting spirit.

� Something that was lacking in the Arab Armies.

The Situation at Yad Mordechai

� The Israelis had a depended on lightly armed men and women to stop the Egyptians.

� Here fewer than 80 men and women held up an Egyptian Brigade moving toward Tel Aviv.

� In other places the Israelis did the same thing.

� Soon, the Arabs began to overestimate Israeli strengths.

� Because of stands like this.

Israel and the Great Powers

� The behavior of the Great Powers confused both sides.

� However, the Arabs were confused more.

� Both the U.S. and Soviet Union recognized Israel.

� The Czechs sold arms to the Israelis.

Explaining the Soviet Position

� Chance to weaken the British in the Middle East.

� Hopes that the Israelis would turn to Communism.

� Challenge the feudal regimes in the Middle East.

� Memories of World War II.

The U.S. Position

� The Public supported Israel.

� The Administration was divided.

� Close advisers to HST supported Israel.

� Key players in State opposed recognition.

� Oil interests and clergymen, often with the Arabist community, opposed recognition.

The British and the Arabs

� The Arabs expected a better hearing from London.

� Why?

� London had treaties with Iraq and Egypt.

� British troops were stationed in Egypt.

� Britain had extensive oil interests in Iraq and Kuwait.

� Many senior British diplomats supported the Arab cause.

� But the memories of the Holocaust rang true in Europe.

Attempts at Peace

� The attempted to mediate the conflict.

� But instead, only angered one side and then the other.

� Then the U.N. sent Count Folke Bernadotte from Sweden to negotiate.

� Bernadotte�s plan was published.

� Jordan gets Jerusalem.

� Israel gets the Negev and parts of the Galilee.

� Just before the Israeli�s seized the Old City of Jerusalem.

� Bernadotte then arranged for another truce.

� Then he proposed the right of return.

� The Stern Gang then assassinated Bernadotte in September 1948.

� Ralph Bunche the went to negotiate, especially for the Northern Negev.

� Bunche arranged for roadways to be shared, but when the Egyptians violated the agreement.

� Israelis simply seized the Northern Negev.

� As the U.N. went about negotiating the Bernadotte Plan, the Israelis just went about driving the Egyptians, Syrians, and Jordanians out.

� Finally, Lebanon and Syria signed agreements for a cease-fire, but Iraq never did.

The War Dramatized Weaknesses of the Arabs.

� That they were politically divided.

� Each had their own idea of what to do, including the creation of a �Greater Syria.�

� Which included Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

� King Abdallah was willing to cut a deal with the Israelis if he could annex part of the West Bank.

� But the Egyptians and Ib Saud did not want the Hashimites next door.

� Where the Arabs then really serious of defeating the Israelis?

Goals of Nasser

� Nasser gain notoriety by seeking to nationalize the Suez Canal.

� In the Arab world he was a hero.

� But clearly placed him on a collision course with the British.

� Anthony Eden then saw this move in the same light as Hitler�s march into Czechoslovakia.

Introduction to the Suez Crisis

� The U.S.A was opposed to any action against Egypt.

� It was an election year.

� Peace and prosperity was Ike�s campaign slogan.

� But the Brits and French opposed Washington.

� Israel wanted to clear out the Fidaiyin bases too.

� The situation was now set for war.

Here Come The Israelis!

� On October 28, 1956, the Israelis mobilize their reserves.

� On the following day, the IDF crosses the border and moves into the Sinai.

� London and Paris then demands that both sides withdraw to 10 miles (16 KMs) from the Suez Canal.

� When Nasser refused, the British and French moved in.

� The U.S.A. and U.S.S.R condemned the attack.

� An emergency U.N. force moved in.

� After a four month occupation, Israel finally evacuated from the Sinai and the Gaza Strip.

Main Gain for the Israelis

� While Israel lost control of the Sinai and Gaza Strip.

� The UNEF did occupy Sharm al-Shaykh.

� Which overlooked the Gulf of Aqaba.

� This arrangement lasted until 1967.

� Nasser would not have survived if it was not for the United States challenging London and Paris.

� Now why did they do it?

� Support for small nations in the Cold War.

� Especially in light of the Hungarian Revolt and the need to win support in the Arab World.

The Eisenhower Doctrine

� Offered to any Middle Eastern Nation that was threatened by Communist subversion.

� When it was proclaimed in Jan. 1957 it impressed the American public of the importance of the Middle East.

� But it received a mixed review among the Middle East.

� Only Lebanon accepted American help.

The Reception of the Eisenhower Doctrine in the Middle East

� Egypt and Ba�th Syria rejected the premise behind it.

� Jordan, under King Husayn, gave in to Arab nationalism.

� He kept Jordan out of the Baghdad Pact.

� Early in 1956 he relieved the British Commander of the Arab Legion.

� Even this was not enough, and Ba�thist and pro-Nasser officers tried to overthrow Husayn.

� John Foster Dulles then informed the public that Jordan was vital to the American interests.

Lebanon Accepts American Help

� Lebanese President Kamil Sham�un accept Ike�s offer.

� This was really a way of placating the key Christian politicians in Lebanon.

� And to keep the Arab nationalists in check.

� Even some have contended that this was a method to rig the next parliamentary elections.

� And contributed to the 1958 Lebanese Civil War.

Coup and Revolution in Iraq

� The Iraq situation changed on July 14, 1958.

� The Iraqi revolution began as a coup.

� A group of Iraqi army officers seized the royal palace.

� Murdered Faisal II and his uncle, Abd al-Ilah and then hunted down and murdered Nuri al-Said.

� Who was a pro-Western Iraqi political leader.

Impact of the Iraqi Revolution

� Appeared as a victory for Nasserism in the Arab World.

� Also appeared as a victory for both Arab Nationalism and Communism.

� Appeared as a forecast of what was about to happen in Jordan and Lebanon.

� Where the U.S. would not topple Nasser.

� Now Washington and Eisenhower was concerned.

� So when a call was made for intervention in Lebanon, Ike responded.

America Responds

� When Sham�un issued a request.

� The U.S. sent in the Marines.

� Even the British sent troops to Jordan.

� The U.S. would have entered Iraq too, if there was any hope of restoring the Monarchy.

� Any hope of a grand Nasser-like state would not happen, since the Iraqis realized that they would have to share their oil revenue with Syrians and Egyptians.

What is Nasserism?

� Pan-Arabism.

� Positive Neutralism.

� Arab Socialism.

Birth of the PLO

� Had it origins following the 1964 Cairo Summit Meeting.

� The Arab leaders agreed to establish the PLO.

� Many of the Palestinian leaders were influenced by Nasser.

� The PLO was willing to fight for the liberation of that region of the previous British Mandate.

� The PLO went about creating a conventional army.

� But instead a more effective organization was Al-Fatah.

� Whose leader was Yasir Arafat.

The First PLO Attacks

� Supported by Syria.

� Attacks came from Jordan.

� Many of those strikes were supported by the Syrian and Jordanian military.

� In 1966 the IDF struck back on a cross border raid at the village of al-Samu.

� This move raised the level of anger in the West and the Arab world.

Background to the War

� By the mid-1960s Syria was the most radical of the Arab states.

� Syria attempted to cut water from the Jordan river.

� Fired on Israel from the Golan Heights.

� In Feb. 1966 even a more militant Ba�thist wing took over in Damascus.

� This group belonged to an Alawi religious sect.

� Nasser needed Syria, because he Egypt was bogged down in the Yemen civil war

� Since Nasser�s relations with Washington was lower than low.

Syria Round II

� Nasser hoped to restrain the Syrian leadership by proposing a military alliance with Damascus.

� In 1967, Syria was involved in an aerial dogfight with the Israelis and came out second best.

� Prime Minister Levi Eshkol warned his military that war may happen.

� He also warned the Syrians to stop firing on the northern Israel.

� Likewise the Saudis kept taunting Nasser of talking tough with Israel and then hiding behind UNEF.

The Sharm al-Shaykh Problem

� Nasser wanted some of the UNEF troops removed in Gaza and the Sinai.

� Amazingly, U Thant removed all UN Troops.

� Egypt then reoccupied the Sharm al-Shaykh heights.

� Imposed a blockade on the Gulf of Agaba.

� The U.S. was bogged down in Vietnam.

� So it offered little help for Israel.

� Which was crucial for Israeli trade with Southeast Asia.

The Road to War

� King Hussein of Jordan flew to Cairo on May 30, 1968 and signed an agreement with Nasser.

� The goal was to established Arab Military Command.

� PM Eshkol and the Israeli government put the whole nation on a war footing.

� Calling up reservists.

� Mobilizing the economy.

� On June 2, 1968, Moshe Dyan was made Defense Minister.

� This gave Israel hope especially since he was a hero of the Sinai campaign in 1956.

The Israeli Preemptive Strike

� The Israelis conducted a massive air strike on the Egyptians on June 5, 1967.

� Then followed up with another series of spectacular raids on Jordan and Syria.