The Arab-Israeli six-day war was more than just some petty argument that developed overnight. It arose due to rising tension between Israel and Arab countries, which began in the 1950’s. The fatal tension arose simply because Arab nations surrounding Israel refused to recognize Israel as an independent country.
In the 1960’s, Israel began to “implement its National Water Carrier plan, which pumps water from the Sea of Galilee to irrigate south and central Israel. The project was in accordance with a plan proposed by US envoy Eric Johnston in 1955, and agreed to by Arab engineers. Arab governments refused to participate however, because of the implied recognition of Israel.” In response to Israel’s water plan, Yasser Arafat began “calling for war to eliminate Israel.”
Against this background, in mid May, 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Nasser began making belligerent statements to his country. In addition, Cairo radios “continually degraded Israel by saying that Israel was lasting too long, it would not last much longer and that it would soon be destroyed, etc.” As a consequence, Israel came to the point when they could take no more; Israel attacked Egypt on June 5, 1967.
In the first two hours of the war, Israel destroyed three hundred enemy aircraft, leaving Egypt with 35 operational aircraft; with such a start as this, Egypt looked doomed. Though set back by great losses, the Arab nations, who had united to fight against Israel, would not easily give up. Iraq, who had “joined a military alliance with Egypt and committed itself to war,” stated the feelings all the Arab nations fighting Israel. Iraq said that, “This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear--to wipe Israel off the map.”
Intense fighting went on for 6 days in early June between Egypt and their allies and Israel. In the end, on June 10, 1967, Israel won the short war, which they started after instigations from Egypt. Egypt’s President Gamal Nasser resigned as a result of the war, which he blamed on himself, not wishing to cause more trouble for Egypt and Anwar El-Sadat then assumed office soon afterwards. The Arab-Israeli six-day war definitely was more than just some petty argument that developed overnight.
