Six days that changed the Middle East

On June 5, 1967, Israel launched a pre-emptive attack on Egypt that drew Syria and Jordan into war. Fifty years on, the repercussions of the Six-Day War continue to reverberate around the Middle East and the wider world

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CONFLICT TIMELINE

DAY 1 – Jun 5: In response to apparent mobilization of its Arab neighbours, Israel launches surprise attack on Egypt, destroying bulk of Egyptian air force on ground

Israeli army enters Egypt-ruled Gaza Strip and advances into Sinai

Jordanian forces begin shelling central Israel – Israeli planes destroy Jordan’s two main air bases

Israel also attacks air bases in Syria after Syrian aircraft strike targets in Haifa

DAY 2 – Jun 6: Israeli forces push deeper into Sinai and Jordan-controlled West Bank

DAY 3 – Jun 7: Israel seizes all West Bank, including East Jerusalem

DAY 4 – Jun 8: Israel completes ground invasion of Sinai, defeating Egyptian forces

DAY 5 – Jun 9: Israel launches ground assault on Golan Heights

DAY 6 – Jun 10: Israeli forces capture Golan Heights after heavy fighting

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KEY PLAYERS

1 2 3 4

1. Moshe Dayan, Israeli defence minister

2. Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egyptian president

3. King Hussein of Jordan

4. Hafez Assad, Syrian defence minister,
later president

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AFTERMATH

Israel returned Sinai to Egypt under 1979 Camp David Accords, and signed peace accord with
Jordan in 1994

Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza Strip in 2005

Golan Heights and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remain under Israeli occupation

In November 1967, UN Security Council adopted Resolution 242 which laid down formula for Arab-Israeli peace whereby Israel would withdraw from territories occupied in war in exchange for peace with its neighbours

This resolution has served as basis for all negotiations since

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Israeli 1948-67

Under Israeli control after Six-Day War

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

50km 30 miles

Suez Canal

EGYPT

SINAI PENINSULA

RED SEA

Gaza Strip

Jerusalem

Tel Aviv

ISRAEL

West Bank

LEBANON

Damascus

Golan Heights

SYRIA

Amman

JORDAN

SAUDI ARABIA


Casualties

Egypt: >11,000

Jordan: 6,000

Syria: 1,000

Israel: 700

Around 300,000 Palestinians fled West Bank and 100,000 Syrians left Golan to become refugees

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Source: Encyclopedia Britannica Pictures: Getty Images, Associated Press, Newscom © GRAPHIC NEWS