Corinne Kelly, Kelsey McCall, Tenicia Winston, Allen Hodge, Ben SOng Yom Kippur Corinne Kelly, Kelsey McCall, Tenicia Winston, Allen Hodge, Ben SOng

Arab/Palestinian Points of Contention By 1973 the Arabs were encouraged to believe that at least some of the lost territories could be regained by force of arms In the Sinai, Egypt threw a major military force across the Suez Canal, capturing Israeli positions on the eastern bank and sending Israel’s defenders backward into the desert. The Arab attack had not come as a complete surprise to the Israeli leadership. Defense Minister Dayan claimed several days later that he had had advance information that some sort of attack was imminent but had decided against a preemptive strike. On the Palestinian front, the 1967 war had made it clear that the Arab state were not able or willing to ‘liberate’ Palestine. Source: “Why Nations Go to War” 212-213, “The Arab-Israeli Conflict” 43

Israeli Points of Contention Preface: the peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel were centered around two issues: 1. Borders of the future states- disputes about the West Bank and the Gaza Strip 2. Movement of Jewish settlement- territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war, if up for negotiation, would require 122 Jewish settlements to be removed and approximately 267,500 people to be removed from the West Bank Israel sought to keep about 8% of the West Bank

Israel didn’t want and Palestinian refugees to return They feared that the influx of Palestinians could possibly give Arabs a majority in the population which would in turn lead to deterioration of the Jewish character of state Israel leaders argued for Palestinian recognition Recognition included the right of two people (Jews and Palestinians) to have separate states Source: The Los Angeles Times

Key Players Arab/Palestinian Yasser Arafat-Chairman of the executive committee/Head of the POL’s political department Oil-rich Arab Sheikdoms-pressured the US to abandon support of Israel Israeli Golda Mier-Prime Minister Egyptian Sadat-Nasser’s successor Jordanian King Hussein United States Henry Kissinger- US Secretary of State Joseph Sisco-US Assistant Secretary of State Source: “The Arab-Israeli Conflict” 44-49

Key Battles Syria and Egypt launched a well-coordinated surprise attack-Yom Kippur Egypt attacked the Suez Canal and invaded the Sinai Syria attacked the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon Israeli troops launched a counter attack and entered the West Bank Israeli forces counter attacked Syria and advanced toward Syria’s capital Damascus On the international front there was an oil conflict between the oil- rich sheikdoms and the Western Countries. (Oil embargo) Source: “Why Nations Go to War” 212-215

Outcome of the Conflict Estimated overall deaths and injuries -3,000 Israelis killed -8,500 Egyptian and Syrian soldiers killed -8,000 Israelis injured -20,000 Syrian wounded The Arabs politically won the war, and Egyptians believed that the only reason the Israels were victorious was because they were saved by the United States As a result -Israel no longer seen as invincible -Israel lost sense of confidence Revived the idea of a greater ‘Eretz Yisrael’ (Land of Israel), thus giving Israeli political groups and movements more prominence The Yom Kippur Laid the ground work for Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy Source: “The Arab-Israeli Conflict” 50-51

Sources Schultz, Kirsten E. The Arab-Israeli Conflict. Longman, 1999. Print. Stoessinger, John. Why Nations Go to War. Boston: St. Martin's Press, 1993. Print. "Points of contention for Israel, Palestinians." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2007. Web. 13 Feb. 2013