Israel's Summer Wars- By Yahal Porat
Israel's Summer Wars - by Yahal Porat
This week summer has arrived suddenly to the uk. That brings the memories of the Israeli summer – much hotter, the time of two major wars: the six-day war, 5.6.1967; and the shlom hagalil war, 6.6.1982.
39 years have passed since the beginning of the six day war. Just to remind us all, that was the war that changed forever Israeli history and still affecting us today: that was the war when Israel has conquered the west bank.
The six day war started with few clashes, mainly in the northern border with Syria. In few different cases Israelis that worked the land near the border where attacked by Syrian forces. Israel chose to react upon one of the attacks so 6 Syrian airplanes went down by the Israeli air force. In April 1967 the tension raised due to the event, and the SSSR has began to spread the word that Israel is about to attack Syria and Egypt. That was not true, but it made Egyptian nerves, so they decided to move their army into Sinai, that was held by the UN special mission force. By doing that the Egyptian has breached the former agreement with Israel – no army forces where allowed in Sinai.
Israel had heard about the move in Egypt during its Independence Day celebrations, but chose to try and find a diplomatic solution. The UN and the USA have asked the state of Israel to wait and let them try and sort out the situation. In the mean time Egypt has closed the Tiran strait leading from the red sea to Eilat. Blocking the ships way was a cassis belay, and Egyptian new that but decided to try Israel’s response.
By the end of May it was clear that a war is inevitable. Jordan has joined Egypt, and the Middle East was on the brinks of a violent crisis. By June a new emergency government was formed and Dayan became the defence minister. Israel chose to strike first, only when it was clear war is about to erupt. After six days of war, Israel has destroyed many of the neighbour’s air forces, conquered Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and mount. Chermon and the west bank including east Jerusalem.
15 years later we saw a very different story. In the eve of 3rd of June terrorists tried to assassinate Shlomo Argov, the Israeli Ambassador in London. Israel decided to attack a few different air bases in Lebanon. The reaction was heavy artillery upon the north of Israel. On the 6th of June a war was started by Israel. At first it was only an operation to push back the different Palestinian militias that have operated from Lebanon and threatened the north border. But very soon that became a very hard long war, demanding the lives of hundreds, many were killed by mistake by their brothers to arms.
It took Israel 3 years and a serious of investigation to pool out of most of Lebanon. Its was only in the year 2000 when Ehud Barak pulled out all Israelis forces away from Lebanon.
Each year when June comes we remember the wars: the hot days of fighting and not always sure we were right.
How many lessons can we still learn? Was it after all the right thing to do? When comes the moment that one must say: I am to attack in order to save myself?
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