Water Wars Israel-Syria-Jordan Jordan River s water crucial

Water Wars: Israel-Syria-Jordan • Jordan River’s water crucial to Israel, Syria, and Jordan. • Israel attempts to divert water from Syrian demilitarized zone - leads to conflict • U. S. backs plan for Jordan to divert water from Yarmuk River and Israel from Lake Tiberias - yet Israel impacts Jordanian water • U. N. argues Israeli action intended to provoke further confrontations with Syria • 1964 Arab Summit at Cairo approved plan for Syria to divert water from Tiberias tributaries - yet construction attacked and destroyed by Israel • Syria pushes for Nasser and others to back a military response, yet declined - unprepared

Water Wars: Israel-Syria-Jordan

Formation of PLO & Al-Fatah • Arab League sponsored formation of a new organization to represent Palestinians and strive for “the liberation of Palestine” • Nasser probably backed idea in order to gain greater influence over situation • Nasser feared that if Palestinians undertook actions against Israel unilaterally, it might draw Egypt into a confrontation it was not ready for • Regardless, his endearing support placed him even more on the forefront of the Arab cause and demonstrated his concerns about the Palestinian issue

Formation of PLO & Al-Fatah • Arab leaders chose Ahmad al-Shuqayri as head of the PLO - Lawyer and Saudi Arabia’s representative to the U. N. • King Husayn of Jordan had misgivings about the PLO - he ruled a population made up of 60% Palestinians • Shuqayri declared that all of Jordan, east and west banks, was part of Palestine, as well as Israel - led to Jordanian/PLO animosity • Husayn barred the PLO from Jordan • The Syrians tried to further radicalize PLO • Syrians turned more to al-Fatah, an organization more willing to undertake operations in Israel

Fatah: Background and Policies • Fatah formed in 1958. Made up of young Palestinians who fled to Gaza when Israel was created • Early leaders included Salah Khalaf, Khalil al-Wazir, and Yasir Arafat • They settled in Kuwait, published journal called Our Palestine • Many advocated Arab unity, feeling it must come before liberation of Palestine • By mid 1965 Fatah began attacking Israeli installations and developed terrorist tactics • They believed that Israeli military threat would unite Arabs and bring Arab victory • Fatah felt war sooner was better than later due to rumors of Israeli nuclear capability

The Syrian-Fatah Alliance • Syrian support for Fatah was meant to reestablish its primacy in Arab revolutionary struggles • Fatah’s raids began to eclipse Shuqayri and the PLO - 39 operations in 1964 • Growing concern in Israel - not sure which country was supporting Fatah since attacks coming from Jordan • Fearing Israeli reprisal, Jordan began efforts to stop Fatah infiltrations - Nasser cautious as well • Coup in Damascus in 1966 - more radical Ba’athist regime under Salah Jadid • Nasser strengthened ties with Jordan and Saudi Arabia Salah Jadid

Jordan and Israeli Retaliation • Syria and Fatah wanted to raise Palestinian opposition to Husayn, and arouse Husayn’s fears against Israel • Israel stepped up retaliatory attacks on Jordan because it was an easier target than hostile and unpredictable Syria • Israel again bombed Syrian water diversion projects, causing Nasser to radicalize his views regarding Palestinian liberation • Syria and Egypt sign mutual defense treaty in 1966 • Israel undertook major raid into West Bank town of Samua, evicting population and blowing up 125 homes, then ambushing Jordanian column • Husayn losing credibility - caught between Syrians and Israel, unable to stop Fatah or Israeli retaliation, or protect Palestinian civilians King Husayn of Jordan

Israeli Politics to 1967 • After 1957 Ben-Gurion’s prestige declined causing a split in the government due to the Lavon Affair • In 1965 he was joined by his colleagues Moshe Dayan and Shimon Peres and formed the Israeli Workers’ Party • Ben-Gurion resigned as PM in 1963 and succeeded by Levi Eshkol • Heroes of Suez all in Workers’ Party - led many to believe that Mapai leaders not equal in defending Israel in 1967 • More radical party, Harut, led by Menachem Begin insisted on all pre-WWI Palestine, became 2 nd largest party by 1955 • Mapai=less militant ; Rafi, Herut=militant

Great Powers in the Middle East • U. S. sent assistance to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and Israel - including weapons ; grain to Egypt • Kennedy administration sends Hawk anti aircraft missiles to Israel • Fragility of Arab governments led Washington to see a strong Israel as important in combating Soviet influence • Mossad begins helping CIA assess Soviets • Israel begins work on nuclear reactor in 1960, found accidentally by U. S. intelligence. Israel agrees to inspections in order to keep Hawk missiles - dies off with Johnson • Nasser’s openness to Vietnam infuriated Johnson causing greater rift between U. S. and Egypt • Johnson sees Israel and U. S. in similar situation, Israel surrounded by hostile Arabs, while U. S. trying not to be surrounded by hostile communists

Soviets and the Arab World • Soviets attempt an “anti-imperialist camp” consisting of Syria, Iraq, and Egypt • Soviets defend those countries in U. N. , especially against U. S. supported Israel. • Support for Egypt even with suppression of communist parties there. • Soviet military supplies to Egypt, Syria, and Iraq clearly outweighed Israel’s in quantity but not quality • Each Soviet weapon system balanced by a Western one, and offensive capability of the Israeli weapons, especially aircraft, far outdistanced that of the Arabs • Quantity gave Nasser confidence prior to 1967, quality led Israel to believe victory inevitable in 1967

Tensions Rise: Israel - Syria • As 1967 began, Fatah increased its raids and bombings hoping to create a crisis that would unite the Arabs against Israel • Border clashes in the Golan Heights escalate in January, lead to tank and artillery exchanges • April 7 th exchanges in the Heights with Syrian air support led to Israeli air assault resulting in six downed Syrian jets - Israeli jets then buzz Damascus • Cairo alarmed as tensions rise • In May Israel openly states immanent attack on Syria if situation worsens, may move for regime change in Syria • Soviets send secret, yet false message to Nasser indicating mass of Israeli forces on border

Tensions Rise: Tiran Straits • Nasser mobilized his army and ordered troops into the Sinai on May 14 due to Soviet intell - requested the UNEF troops there to withdraw, removing international buffer • U. N. requests that Israel allow buffer on their side of border - Israel refused • First, Nasser refused to occupy Sharm al-Shaykh, but after taunting from Jordan and Saudi Arabia, he occupied the area and closed the Tiran Straits, closing all shipping to Israel • This action recreated the Casus belli stipulated by Israel at end of 1956 war • Nasser did not seek war, more a political move occupation of Sharm al-Shaykh meant to blunt Arab criticism, not offensive prelude to war, yet believed his army could hold • Nasser adopted defensive posture, yet further confusion when war minister returned from Moscow and lied about Soviet support for war UNEF Troops in Sinai

Tensions Rise: The Sinai • Although Nasser insisted that Egypt would not attack, he argued that an Israeli attack would restore the situation to 1948 - basically threatening the existence of Israel • Also spoke of avenging 1956 Suez war and other Arab nationalistic rhetoric • Other leaders much more to the point: Shuqayri stated that Israel was about to be destroyed • King Husayn signed a joint defense pact with Nasser, yet had broken relations with Syria due to Fatah issues • Thus, Nasser had defense pacts with both Jordan and Syria, yet they were sworn enemies - The Arabs were hardly united

Israeli Debates • Israel began to see the situation leading to imminent war - especially to achieve its objectives • PM Eshkol called up all reservists and mobilized the military - Israel felt encircled • Israel hesitated attack until it got U. S. approval, but U. S. promised to reopen straits - thus Eshkol cabinet voted to delay for 2 weeks • Israeli generals furious with Eshkol - most wanted war in order to expand territory to include Jerusalem and West Bank • Military forced Eshkol to bring Begin and Ben. Gurion’s group into council, makes Dayan minister of defense • Now war seemed inevitable - just question of when Levi Eshkol

The Move Towards War • Immediate attacks advisable for 3 reasons: • element of surprise, cost of ongoing mobilization, and unease of public • Yet decisive factor was news that Nasser had agreed to send his vice president to Washington to work out issue of Tiran blockade • Would probably lead to saving compromise that would politically work to Nasser’s advantage - be seen as Nasser victory in Arab world, Israeli leadership would not let that happen • Eshkol government sought U. S. approval for attack and received encouragement from Sec of Def Mc. Namara and officials from the White House • On June 4 cabinet approved Dayans plan to attack Egypt

The Six-Day War • (June 5) Within 3 hours of initial Israeli air strikes in the Sinai, the Egyptian air force was nearly obliterated - though Israel did not reach its goals of Sharm al. Shaykh and the Suez Canal until June 9, the war was virtually decided • U. S. assured Jordan that Israel would not attack, but it did - and pressed for goals of West Bank and Jerusalem • Israel then promised Jordan it would not attack E. Jerusalem if Jordanians stop shelling. • Israeli diplomats tried to gain U. S. support to delay pressing for cease fire until Israel had achieved its goals • U. N. called for cease fire, but Israel delayed until Old Jerusalem taken • Israel pushed towards the Jordan before Husayn could announce his acceptance at midday June 7 Egypt accepted cease fire on June 8

The Six-Day War • On June 9 Syria accepted cease fire - yet this was unacceptable to Dayan since no major confrontation had emerged with Syria • Without consulting Eshkol or Rabin he launched an all-out assault on the Golan Heights • Though Eshkol angered, he had Dayan push the advance until it reached the headwaters of the Jordan at the town of Qunaitra on June 10 • This officially ended the Six Day War

Israel Attacks! VIDEO CLIP

The U. S. S. Liberty • Regardless of U. S. support for an Israeli attack, Israeli planes and torpedo boats staged an apparently deliberate assault on an American intelligence-gathering ship, the USS Liberty, on June 8, killing 34 and wounding more than 70 • The ship was stationed off the Sinai near Israel to monitor radio signals from all sources • The Israelis probably acted to forestall American awareness of their plans to move against Syria • Johnson and his aides accepted Israeli apologies for the “accident”

Aftermath • U. S. looks bad - Egyptians argue that Washington advised them to hold back for diplomatic resolution while encouraging Israel to attack • Israel had convinced Johnson this war would bring the sought after peace to region - and had promised their goals were not to expand their borders • Plan to return land for peace. • Israel did not anticipate the scope of their victory, including Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai

Aftermath • Some areas, such as East Jerusalem were incorporated into Israel immediately, regardless of past promises • As soon as secured, Israeli officials used bulldozers to demolish the maghrebi quarter opposite the Western Wall, evicting over 600 Muslims so there would be plenty of room for Israeli Jews to pray • Israel moved quickly to preempt U. N. • Over 100, 000 new Palestinian refugees from within Israel and the West Bank crossed into East Bank Jordan, most forcibly evicted from their homes which, along with their villages, were bulldozed so they could not return

Aftermath • Eshkol declared to the Israeli people: • “There should be no illusion that Israel is prepared to return to the conditions that existed a week ago… We have fought alone for our existence and our security, and are therefore justified in deciding for ourselves what are the genuine and indispensable interests of our state and how to guarantee our future. We shall never return to the conditions prevailing before. ” • With this and other statements, Israel’s prewar assurances that it would not expand its borders became moot

Impact of Six Day War • U. S. in precarious situation for supporting Israel - especially after it changed policy • Israel will fight to keep in borders • Arabs strive to restore pre 1967 borders • Fatah use debacle to justify increased independence from other Arab states – idea of Arab unity and victory over Israel unrealistic • Will bring down many Arab governments – lose confidence of people • Creates a surge in Islamicism – Islamic resurgence and fundamentalist movements truly on the rise after 1967 war