Progress!!!

[DGB454]

This exerpt was picked from a site I visit on occasion. It doesn't sound like the build up was a myth. Just by the sounds of what was comming out of the Syrian leadership they were ready and anxious to wipe out every last Israeli in that area. This is just the tip of the iceberg as I understand it. Terrorist attacks had increased against Israel in the months proceeding the build up.

"On May 15, Israel's Indipendance Day, Egyptian troops began moving into the Sinai and massing near the Israeli border. By May 18, Syrian troops were prepared for battle along the Golan Heights.
Nasser ordered the UN Emergency Force, stationed in the Sinai since 1956, to withdraw on May 16. Without bringing the matter to the attention of the General Assembly, as his predecessor had promised, Secretary-General U Thant complied with the demand. After the withdrawal of the UNEF, the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed (May 18, 1967):

"As of today, there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience no more. We shall not complain any more to the UN about Israel. The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the extermination of Zionist existence." 1

An enthusiastic echo was heard May 20 from Syrian Defense Minister Hafez Assad:

"Our forces are now entirely ready not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian army, with its finger on the trigger, is united....I, as a military man, believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of annihilation." 2

1. Isi Leibler, The Case For Israel, (Australia: The Globe Press, 1972), p. 60
2. Ibid."

[werwolf-23]

Originally Posted by DGB454

This exerpt was picked from a site I visit on occasion. It doesn't sound like the build up was a myth. Just by the sounds of what was comming out of the Syrian leadership they were ready and anxious to wipe out every last Israeli in that area. This is just the tip of the iceberg as I understand it. Terrorist attacks had increased against Israel in the months proceeding the build up.

"On May 15, Israel's Indipendance Day, Egyptian troops began moving into the Sinai and massing near the Israeli border. By May 18, Syrian troops were prepared for battle along the Golan Heights.
Nasser ordered the UN Emergency Force, stationed in the Sinai since 1956, to withdraw on May 16.

Grab ye a map, my friend! The Sinai is about twice the size of Israel itself, and was Egyptian territory that was occupied first by the Israelis in 1956 and then by a UN force. Reoccupying your land is entirely fair. Also, they occupied with a massive TWO DIVISIONS!
Also, the 'ready for battle' is a major skew -- both the Israelis AND Arab nations had troops on their common borders. By May 18, Israeli troops were prepared for battle along the Golan Heights, inside the demilitarized buffer zone they illegally occupied in the 50s.

Further, there'll be no real war between countries before they actually mobilize their troops, which happened all at about the same time -- the last couple of days of May 1967.

If the Arabs REALLY wanted to smash Israel, apparently they were totally ready by 20 May 1967. To believe the Arabs were ready to attack in mid-May, and then politely waited for a couple weeks as Israel (the mortal enemy they swore to destroy) called up its reserves, mobilized and organized the troops, readied its aircraft and tanks... and the Arabs basically sat around until Israel started blowing up their airfields and crashing over the borders... takes a stretch of credulity.

Without bringing the matter to the attention of the General Assembly, as his predecessor had promised, Secretary-General U Thant complied with the demand. After the withdrawal of the UNEF, the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed (May 18, 1967):

"As of today, there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience no more. We shall not complain any more to the UN about Israel. The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the extermination of Zionist existence." 1

An enthusiastic echo was heard May 20 from Syrian Defense Minister Hafez Assad:

"Our forces are now entirely ready not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian army, with its finger on the trigger, is united....I, as a military man, believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of annihilation." 2

Rhetoric 'n chest-thumping -- if they were massing up the troops and ready to attack, they would have, WITHOUT waiting for Israel to get in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth hit.

Also, of course, Israel's STILL occupying all that land, with all the people in it, building settlements like crazy.

Here's a more accurate look at the Six-Day War, from Jews For Justice...

http://www.wrmea.com/jews_for_justice/1967war.html

[DGB454]

Will have to read that link when I get home from work then I can respond properly. Sorry about the delay.

[T4 Primera]

"The thesis that the danger of genocide was hanging over us in June 1967 and that Israel was fighting for its physical existence is only bluff, which was born and developed after the war." Israeli General Matityahu Peled, Ha'aretz, 19 March 1972.

[DGB454]

I read through the site. It's a good read. It has even slightly changed a few of my views on the matter but not the view I (and many others) hold that Israel was not the agressor until provoked by Arab nations using terrorism, Threats("Rhetoric 'n chest-thumping") of annhilation, And closing of the sea routs for Israeli shipping. Yes they did strike first. Not to do so would have been a huge mistake, The Arab world was not just sitting on their thumbs in the weeks proceeding the war. They were continuing terrorist strikes against Israel and in unity telling the world that they were poised to drive the Zionist into the sea. Israel only had 2 choices flight or fight. They showed amazing restraint in the months proceeding the was on the advice of the US not to counter attack the terrorist activities against their land. Go back to some of the articles printed during that time to see what was happening. They paint a very different story than does that site. Israel is not without it's own faults on this matter either. I believe that many of the reports and claims by Israel(as well as other nations)of large amounts of troops gathering on their borders were exaggerated and the threat of being totally annihilated was probably not as grave as they made out. I would like to see peace in that area and I would also like to see Israel return to the land originally set be the UN. Hopefully the comming year will be one of change on both sides (Arab and Israeli) but I doubt it.

Anyway, I am obliged that you have brought new light to some of the goings on during the war. I have a feeling that we won't come to an agreement readily on this subject but I do enjoy learning new facts about it.

Time for work
Later.

[werwolf-23]

Originally Posted by DGB454

I read through the site. It's a good read. It has even slightly changed a few of my views on the matter but not the view I (and many others) hold that Israel was not the agressor until provoked by Arab nations using terrorism, Threats("Rhetoric 'n chest-thumping") of annhilation, And closing of the sea routs for Israeli shipping. Yes they did strike first. Not to do so would have been a huge mistake, The Arab world was not just sitting on their thumbs in the weeks proceeding the war. They were continuing terrorist strikes against Israel and in unity telling the world that they were poised to drive the Zionist into the sea. Israel only had 2 choices flight or fight. They showed amazing restraint in the months proceeding the was on the advice of the US not to counter attack the terrorist activities against their land. Go back to some of the articles printed during that time to see what was happening. They paint a very different story than does that site. Israel is not without it's own faults on this matter either. I believe that many of the reports and claims by Israel(as well as other nations)of large amounts of troops gathering on their borders were exaggerated and the threat of being totally annihilated was probably not as grave as they made out. I would like to see peace in that area and I would also like to see Israel return to the land originally set be the UN. Hopefully the comming year will be one of change on both sides (Arab and Israeli) but I doubt it.

The Gulf of Aqaba was in fact Egyptian territorial waters. The only country that disputed Egypt's right to close it to shipping was (predictably) the US... As for terrorism, the link provided gives a good idea of how that happened -- namely, the Israelis would just push deep into Syrian territory until they were fired on, and then claim 'terrorism!'

It's IDF strategy number one, which can best be observed by watching Israel repeatedly violating Lebanese airspace.... provoke provoke provoke provoke provoke provoke THEY'RE ATTACKING US!

Anyway, I am obliged that you have brought new light to some of the goings on during the war. I have a feeling that we won't come to an agreement readily on this subject but I do enjoy learning new facts about it.

Agreed, and thanks to you also! I love a healthy, educational, INFORMED debate of the issues... Seems to be hard to find these days...

[DGB454]

Originally Posted by werwolf-23

The Gulf of Aqaba was in fact Egyptian territorial waters. The only country that disputed Egypt's right to close it to shipping was (predictably) the US...

- Canadian Prime Minister L.B. Pearson in the House of Commons, May 24/67

"...something should be done about the right of Israeli ships, which was exercised by all other ships until a day or so ago, to navigate the Suez Canal There have been decisions by the Security Council of the UN affirming that right, but in practice, the affirmation has not meant very much to Israel ."

As for terrorism, the link provided gives a good idea of how that happened -- namely, the Israelis would just push deep into Syrian territory until they were fired on, and then claim 'terrorism!'

- Canadian Prime Minister L.B. Pearson in the House of Commons, June 8/67.

In 1967, Palestinian raiders from Syria increasingly put the lives of Jewish immigrants in danger. Encouraged by the U.S.S.R ., Egypt , and its charismatic leader Gamal Nasser, was thought to have "expansionism." tendencies, and a desire to invade Israel . As 100,000 Egyptian troops massed on the Sinai , Israel took the only action available to prevent certain defeat...on June 5, 1967, they attacked. A brilliantly planned air attack destroyed almost the entire Egyptian air force as it sat on the ground. By gaining air superiority, the Israelis were then able to maneuver their tank corps with impunity, not fearing Egyptian air attacks. A series of armored cavalry and tank task forces then advanced rapidly and surrounded or cut-off Egyptian defenders . Six days later, it turned into a rout, and the Israelis gained both territory and the respect of other military forces in the region.

- Amin al-Huweidi, the former Egyptian Minister of War and head of the General Intelligence .

"In recent weeks, the Middle East has passed through a crisis whose shadows darkened the entire world. The crisis has many consequences, but only one cause. Israel 's right to peace, sovereignty...indeed its very right to exist, has been forcibly denied and aggressively attacked."

Agreed, and thanks to you also! I love a healthy, educational, INFORMED debate of the issues... Seems to be hard to find these days...

Me too.