Geopolitics of the Six Day War

Geopolitics of the Six Day War | October 22, 2009

Describe the interests and actions of the various Great Powers and International Organizations involved in the Six Day War.

Americans approved the transfer of Hawk surface-to-air missiles to Israel
recommitted to Israel’s security and the need to maintain a regional balance of power
cut economic assistance to Egypt by 1965 under the leadership President Lyndon B. Johnson, which pushed the Egyptians closer to the Soviets
President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel to withdraw from Sharm el-Sheikh despite the fact that the Egyptians did not offer any concessions in return
Eisenhower pledged that the U.S. would guarantee Israel’s right of passage in the Straits of Tiran
the Americans also sponsored a United Nations resolution establishing the United Nations Emergency Force presence between the Egyptians and the Israelis
Americans repeatedly rebuffed Israeli requests for military aid and approval for an Israeli preemptive attack on Egypt
Americans aggressively pursued diplomatic solutions and sought to cobble together an international regatta to challenge the Egyptian blockade on Israeli shipping in the Straits of Tiran

self interest in the region= tried to safeguard their share
provided Israel some weapons to defend itself
British policymakers decided to adopt a more neutral or pro-Arab stance
war marked a turning point in relations between Israel and Britain, ending a brief period of close cooperation

by the early 1950s the Soviets no longer regarded the Zionist state as useful for extending their influence into the Middle East
the Soviets took on the role of armorer for both Syria and Egypt, supplying them with modern tanks, aircraft and later missiles
the Soviet Union exerted a troublesome influence on the events leading up to the war by feeding Arab suspicions about Israel
after the war the Soviets rapidly made up the equipment losses suffered by the Syrians and Egyptians and increased their involvement in Egypt’s anti-aircraft defenses
Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War had an enormous impact on the Jewish population in the Soviet Union and helped set in motion the Jewish exodus from the Communist regime

France had been a key weapons supplier to Israel during the 1950’s and the first half of the 1960’s
French fighter jets made up the backbone of Israel’s air force on the eve of the Six Day War
France hoped to protect its overseas empire in the face of mounting insurgencies
1958 to the Presidency of France had begun a gradual shift in policy, a mending of relations with the Arabs and a move away from Israel
in addition to the embargo on Israeli weapons purchases imposed in 1967, France also refused to deliver 50 aircraft already paid for in full
the French embargo marked the end of close military relations between Israel and France and the beginning of a strong relationship between Israel and the U.S

United Nations

in place along the Egypt-Israel border since the Suez Crisis of 1956
an irritating presence to Egyptian militarism
the Arab League declared their wish to finally achieve the dissolution of Israel in 1964
Egypt forced a withdrawal of UNEF from the border
Canada’s objected to the retreat of UNEF, arguing that it would spark armed conflict
UNEF heads attempted to slow removal, but war broke out in June of 1967

previous year (November 1966) had drafted Resolution 228, which cautioned Israel against continued encroachment into Jordanian territory
Abba Eban made a speech to the Security Council in order to explain Israel’s justifications for going to war
Security Council Resolution 242 (November 1967) called for the removal of Israeli forces from occupied territory to facilitate peace between Israel and Arab countries
called for end of “belligerency” between the involved states (Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Israel)
start of “land for peace” – would become a major part of future Arab-Israeli relations
Israel still maintained expanded borders

ALLIANCES

United States – maintained diplomatic relations outside their borders to keep the peace
also reaped benefits from said diplomatic relations
United States had bountiful Jewish population
Presidents pandered to Zionist Jews to maintain order and popularity
Israel asked for United States for military assistance during the Yemen War
United States began to give Hawk air missiles to Israel
Arabs was infuriated by the United States giving supplies to Israel

although the United States often favored the Israelis, kept diplomatic friendships with the Arab countries
interests in the Middle Eastern oil fields
Cold War – needed to secure relations with the Arab countries to fight communist threat
embargoed arms because they didn’t want to seem as if they were favoring the Jews over the Arabs
precedent seen in the intermittent support of the Partition of Palestine earlier

Soviets sought to extend their Communist ideals into the Middle East; needed a gateway
Syria and Egypt – socialist ideology – still lacked full Communist leanings
Soviet Union used the war between Israel and Egypt to extend their control in the Middle East
Soviets supplied massive amounts of arms to the Arabs