Israel's History:
1967

1967:
by Liat Tzoubari, 2002-2003 ECRUSY Israel Affairs VP

1967 was a very important year for our Jewish Homeland. We gained lots of land, we finally had the confidence (and the proof) that our military was one of the best and could defend ourselves, and, we got back Jerusalem!!! It was also a very sad year seeing as many soldiers were killed and wounded in the Six Day War.

(Following the timeline is part of a description of the war, and it also talks about Israeli society during the war, and the help Jews in the Diaspora gave.)

• Escalating Conflict
  A National Unity government is formed to face massive military build-ups by the neighboring Arab states and an Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran.
• Six-Day War
  Israel invokes its inherent right of self-defense by launching a preemptive strike; Judea, Samaria, Gaza, and Sinai peninsula come under Israeli control; Jerusalem officially reunited under Israeli control; The Golan Heights are taken by Israel after fierce fighting against attacking Syrian forces.
• Open Bridges Policy
  All Jordan River bridges are opened under a new policy for goods and people.
• Israeli Destroyer Fired Upon
  Sea-to-sea missiles fired from Egyptian missile boats near Port Said sink the Israeli destroyer Eilat; 47 are killed or missing and presumed dead.
• UN Resolution 242
  UN General Assembly Resolution 242 is adopted, providing an agreed framework for settling the Arab-Israel dispute.
• A military government is established in administered areas.
• Ben-Gurion University in the Negev is opened.

The Six Day War
On May 15th, 1967, Egyptian tanks moved across the Sinai desert to Israel’s southern border, and three days later, Nasser requested that the UN Emergency Troops leave Sharm-el-Sheich. On May 23rd, Nasser, once again, blocked the Gulf of Aqaba from Israeli and international ships. He then mined the Strait of Tiran. Israel was cut off from its source of oil. Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt all agreed to start a holy war, together, against Israel.

Israel attempted to find a solution other than war, although they took the appropriate steps to prepare for the worst. The United Nations and many other countries such as Great Britain, Canada, and the US tried to prevent a war. But Israel and the four Arab countries were heavily armed. They had all acquired weapons and equipment from France, Russia, Great Britain and the US.

The Israeli army was too small to defend Israel against the four strong Arab nations. Therefore, the reserves were called up for military duty (the reserves consist of men under the age of 49 that had been trained soldiers. They are workers, farmers, fathers, brothers, husbands, etc, that can be called up whenever they are needed, to join the IDF). Men over the age of 49 wanted to volunteer as well.

The entire Jewish State united like it never had before. Every citizen was busy, preparing for war. Women and children filled sand bags, prepared air raid shelters, dug trenches, etc. Girls and boys sorted mail and delivered it. Students from vocational schools filled in in factories. People donated blood. Citizens traveled to farms to help grow the crops. Houses were blacked out and windows taped. All Israelis that owned a car were asked to leave it off at certain drop-off points around the country. These were plastered with mud and used wherever they were in need. On June 2nd, Moshe Dayan was elected Minister of Defense; he had lead Israelis to victory during the Sinai Campaign, and Israelis had faith that he would lead them to success once again.

Jews around the world came to Israel’s aid. They wrote letters to their country’s leaders, urging them to do everything possible to prevent a war in the Middle East. It was at this time that the Israel Emergency Fund was born; over one hundred million dollars was raised around the world, by Jews and non–Jews, for Israel. More money was given by more people than ever before in the history of mankind!!! In addition, 6,302 volunteers came to Israel from 34 different countries, in order to help. They came to replace the citizens who were called up for reserve duties and they helped keep Israel on its toes!