History of Israeli/Palestinian Conflict- Cliff Notes (pt 3)

June 5, 1967  In an attack that begins what became known as the “al-Naksah,” or “the Setback,” to Palestinians, Israel seizes Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian territory. The Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip are captured from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan.

Israel begins establishing settlements in the West Bank, Gaza, and the Sinai Peninsula. Palestinians view this as a violation of international law regarding territory seized during war. Iraq sends forces into Jordan to support the war, even though Jordan had not requested such action. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) moves its operations from the West Bank to Jordan.

In response to the war, the UN Security Council passes Resolution 242, which calls for the “withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict [in official UN languages other than English the article “the” precedes “territories,” thus implying that Israel has to return all the conquered territory]; termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.” This resolution, with its formula of “land for peace,” is the basis of for all subsequent peace negotiations between Israel, Palestinians, and the surrounding Arab states.

September, 1970 Frustrated with and feeling threatened by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s involvement in Jordanian politics, King Hussein declares war on the PLO and imposes martial law. Three thousand people lost their lives in the fighting that ensued between the Jordanian and the PLO forces.

In a peace agreement brokered by the Arab League and by Gamel Abdel Nasser, leader of Egypt, the PLO agreed to move its headquarters from Jordan to Lebanon. This was one of Nasser’s last acts as leader of Egypt, as he died later that month of a heart attack.

October 6, 1973 Egypt and Syria organize a surprise attack on Israeli forces in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights on the day of the Jewish fast of Yom Kippur and the Muslim month of Ramadan, in which the annual fast is performed. Egypt and Syria made initial gains but retreated after Israeli counter-attacks.

Because they successfully carried out a surprise attack, the war was a political victory for Egypt and Syria. Though they overextended their forces and did not succeed in regaining control over the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, Israel’s military vulnerabilities were exposed, particularly because the U.S. air-lifted a large supply of weapons to Israel, without which Israel might not have been as successful in defending its territory.The war lasted for 3 weeks, ending on October 22 on the Syrian front and October 26 on the Egyptian front.

• Israelis refer to the war as the Yom Kippur war. Israel saw the war as a military victory because it maintained possession of the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. 
• Arabs refer to the war as the Ramadan war.