Six Days of Victory.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the 6 Day War. Those interested in this Israeli war and others may enjoy my own Israel at War.

Basically, the Arabs talked themselves into the conflict. After Syria got a bloody nose in an air battle over Damascus, Assad ratcheted up his anti-Israel rhetoric. In Egypt, Nasser resented the good press Assad was getting in the Arab world so he one upped Assad and threatened to reoccupy the demilitarized Sinai and so on and so forth....

Surrounded by enemies Israel Pearl Harbored the Arab world and launched a daring night time sneak attack which destroyed most of the Egyptian and Syrian air forces on the ground.  Nasser hit the panic button and ordered the Egyptian Army to withdrawal. The Egyptians retreated in disarray  and were set upon by the advancing Israelis.

Assad and Nasser tricked Jordan's Hussein into joining the war, resulting in Jordan's defeat as well and the current on-going, never to end Palestinian situation. Hussein discussed the whole sorry episode in a book.

As noted before, we find the '73 War far more interesting. That said the Six Day War established Israel as a fact on the ground. The nation now had strategic space and the Arabs once and for all had to give up their dream of destroying the Jewish State. Egypt only got the Sinai back after signing a peace treaty. To this day the two governments cooperate closely on security matters.

Before all that, however, the Arab world responded to Israel's crushing victory with its infamous Khartoum statement and three no's, 'No Peace, no recognition, no negotiation.' There followed the War of Attrition, precursor to the Yon Kippur War.