Chapter 6 - Yom Kippur War 1973

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LO: Why Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in 1973, the outcome of the war.
Karima Ranieri
Flashcards by Karima Ranieri, updated more than 1 year ago
Karima Ranieri
Created by Karima Ranieri almost 7 years ago
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Question Answer
Which Arab areas did Israel remain firmly in control of after the Six-Day War in 1967? - West Bank - Gaza - Sinai - Golan Heights
What made the Israelis determined to hold on to the land they had seized in the war? Arab defiance at their conference in August 1967.
How many Palestinian Arabs were found living under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza? Over a million
Fighting across the Suez Canal, March 1969 to August 1970 What did Nasser want to do? - Re-equip and reorganise his armed forces
Fighting across the Suez Canal, March 1969 to August 1970 Who did Syria and Egypt receive military support from? The Soviet Union (through weapons and military advisors)
What happened in 1969? - With the support of the Soviets, Nasser embarked on artillery bombardment of Israeli positions on the eastern bank of the Suez canal.
What was Nasser's aim when he attacked Israeli positions on the Suez Canal? - To bring about an Israeli withdrawal from Sinai. - To inflict heavy casualties on the Israelis, to exhaust them psychologically and economically.
How did the Israelis respond? - Israelis retaliated with air attacks which destroyed Egypt's air-defence missile system.
Who did Israel receive military support from? - The US, who supplied them with advanced fighter jets since 1968.
What was the Israeli aim? - To stay in possession of Sinai.
What did the Israelis do to secure Sinai further? - Built a line of fortifications on their side of the Canal. - Over the next two years, there were many clashes across the Canal.
What was the issue with the fighting across the Suez Canal? - Both Egypt and Israel lost many men and weapons, and by 1970, both sides were tiring. - Nasser did not receive Arab support, nor was he able to dislodge the Israelis. - Egyptian cities on the Canal were regularly pulverised by Israeli guns and planes in this war of attrition.
When did Nasser die? In September 1970
Who was Nasser succeeded by? - His vice-president, Anwar Sadat.
What did Anwar Sadat realise about the fighting over the Suez Canal? - That it was draining Egypt of money and morale. - The Canal could not be used and fighting could flare up at any time. - Egypt had to keep nearly a million men ready to fight which was expensive.
What was needed in order to clear the Canal and rebuild Egypt's cities? Peace
What was the overriding objective for Egypt? - To regain Sinai, the land it had lost in the Six Day War of 1967.
What was Sadat willing to do? - Recognise the state of Israel on the condition that Egypt would regain its lost land.
What plan did Sadat put forward in February 1971? - A plan for a limited Israeli withdrawal from the Suez Canal and the reopening of the Canal for international shipping. - However, Israelis were unwilling to discuss.
What did Sadat do in order to persuade the US government to use its influence with the Israelis? - Because the Israelis were unwilling to discuss peace agreements, Sadat sacked members of his government who were anti-American. - Sadat also continued to secure aircraft and arms from the Soviets but in 1972, expelled all 15,000 Soviet advisors who had been training Egypt's armed forces.
Did the USA react? - No, it made little difference in the US. 1. Because they were too busy with the war in Vietnam and the 6 million Jews in the USA would exert huge pressure on them. 2. An election was approaching and President Nixon, keen to win Jewish votes, did not want to be seen as pro-Arab.
What did Sadat decide was the only solution to the problem, in 1972? - Sadat decided that Stalemate could be broken only by war. - Only war would provoke the international crisis that would compel the superpowers to intervene, stop the fighting and put pressure on Israel to withdraw from the territory it had captured in 1967.
What did Sadat need in order to force the Israelis out of Sinai? Strong financial support from the oil-rich state of Saudi Arabia. Also, the new Syrian leader, President Assad, became a close ally.
What were the Israelis doing in the occupied territories, particularly Syria's Golan Heights and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula? - The Israelis were increasing their control of these areas: they were building new Jewish settlement and kept many troops there.
When did Syria and Egypt attack? On the 6th of October. It was Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, which meant many Israeli soldiers were on leave.
How many Egyptian men and tanks crossed the Suez Canal in the first 24 hours? - 90,000 men and 850 tanks.
What did Egypt and Syria manage to do? - Break through the Israeli fortifications and destroy 300 Israeli tanks. - While 500 Syrian tanks overwhelmed Israeli forces on the Golan Heights. - Israel retaliated with air force, but the Arabs had missiles which they used very effectively. - It took the Israeli 3 days to become fully mobilised.
What did Israel manage to do? On the 12th October, they had pushed the Syrians back and on the 15th October they exploited the Egyptian Third Army.
How was Israel helped? The USA sent a massive airlift of thousands of tons of the most advanced weaponry from the USA.
What was Israeli success? - When the Israelis crossed the canal, they were just 80km from Cairo, the Egyptian capital. - They proved their weapons, training and tactics were superior. - They were 30km from the Syrian capital, Damascus.
When was the ceasefire due to come into effect? The USA, Cairo, and the Soviet Union sponsored a joint UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations for a peace settlement. Ceasefire was due to come into effect on 22nd October but it broke down.
When did the fighting end? On the 24th October
How was the war a success for the Arabs? - Israel had incurred far more losses of both men and weaponry than in previous wars. - Arabs had destroyed the myth of Israeli invincibility. - They proved that Arab soldiers could fight with courage and determination under skilled leaders. - Restored Arab pride, honour and self-confidence. - Sadat forced the US to change policy. - US was now keen to persuade the Israelis to enter peace negotiations.
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