Home Page: OCIN INITIATIVE
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Chapter 2 Global wave – The end of colonial era and the emerging two super powers
2-7(21) Six Day War and the death of Nasser
Formed in 1964, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) started activities to recapture the land from Israel. Its headquarter was placed in Amman, Jordan.
At that time there were many changes in political alignment in the Middle East, such as establishment of the United Arab Republic by Egypt and Syria in 1958, its resolution in1961, the attempt of the Arab Federation by two monarchies in Iraq and Jordan in 1958, the Iraq Revolution of the same year, and the civil war in Yemen in 1962. Israel has been staring these incidents at this sideways. Dictatorial leaders of Egypt, Syria and Iraq raised their voices towards their citizens saying "Drive Israel into the Mediterranean Sea!" to appreciate their own misconduct or to justify power. Regardless of the eastern and western world, the dictator used to agitate by hate speech to turn away the eyes of the public.
Meanwhile, Israel also made a fierce campaign against the crisis of nation. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol recalled Moshe Dayan retired officer with eye-patch to the defense minister. Dayan’s strategy was that whoever strike first won. He calmly collected information about the neighboring Arab countries using Mossad, the world top level intelligence. He proved the timing of the sneak attack.
The sneak attack of Israel began on June 5, 1967 at 8 AM. Their target was bordering Egypt, Jordan and Syria. First, Israeli air force attacked the Egyptian Air Force Base on the Sinai Peninsula, and made it impossible to use the runway, and destroyed all of the jet fighters made by USSR on the ground. The Egyptian pilots in bed could not fight back at all. The Israeli army crossed the Sinai Peninsula at a burst, reaching the other side of the Suez Canal.
Israel, who controlled the Sinai Peninsula, returned the heel and occupied the Jordanian territory of the Jordan River so called West Bank, further suppressed the Golan Heights of Syria. The War ended with the result of Israel 's overwhelming victory. The Arab coalition including Egypt was defeated devastatingly. Battle was settled in only 6 days. The war, therefore, was commonly called "6 Day War". In this war Israel got the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Golan Heights at once and doubled its land area. The Sinai Peninsula was later returned to Egypt, but the Gaza Strip, West Bank of Jordan River and the Golan Heights have been occupied by Israel until now.
The Suez Canal has been closed for a while and it has influenced widely on the international economy. More tragedy fell on the Palestinians who lived in the West Bank. Many of them became refugees and flew into Jordan, the number of refugees reached one million.
President Nasser took responsibility for the defeat and announced his resignation at night on June 9, 1967. But Egyptian citizens thought that there was only Nasser that could save Egypt. Just after the announcement of resignation, Cairo citizens asked for Nasser to change his mind and launched a demonstration march on the street. A huge wave of citizens appeared in the street without light due to black out. Only three and a half hours later, Nasser announced a statement to leave the matter to the decision of the National Assembly. Early on the 10th June, the National Assembly urged Nasser to stay as head of state, and Nasser decided to continue his presidency.
In August, the Arab countries held an Arab summit meeting in Khartoum in Sudan and adopted a hardline policy against Israel called “Three No’s”. In other words, it was declarations that "NO acceptance of Jewish nation”, "NO negotiation with Israel", and "NO peace agreement between Arab and Israel". In fact, both Egypt and Jordan wanted to regain their territory from Israel through negotiation with US’s intermediation, but their wish was swept away by the loud voice of the many Arab leaders.
Nasser had kept the president for nearly three years afterwards, but he must have understood that he himself was lame duck. In August 1970, after realizing the ceasefire with Israel, as incumbent president he suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 52.
(To be continued ----)
