Tensions Before the Six-Day War

MAP 17

S Y R I A

J O R D A N

S I N A I

E G Y P T

S A U D I A R A B I A

M E D I T E R R A N E A N

S E A

L E B A N O N

R E D S E A

GULF OF EI L AT

GULF OF SUEZ

Haifa Haifa

Tel Aviv-Jaffa Tel Aviv-Jaffa

Jerusalem Jerusalem

Beer Sheba Beer Sheba

Eilat Eilat

El Arish El Arish

Gaza Gaza

Sharm el-Sheikh Sharm el-Sheikh

L E G E N D

Israel before the Six-Day War

Egyptian forces

Syrian forces

Lebanese forces

Iraqi forces

Jordanian forces

Saudi forces

UN force withdrawal

Egyptian blockade

N

100 km

62 mi

North at top. Arrows show direction only and are schematic.

MAP-017 · map

HISTORICAL MAPS

MAP 17 Tensions Before the Six-Day War

May 1967

In November 1966, Egypt and Syria signed a Defense Agreement, prompting Syria to escalate hostilities with Israel, culminating in the spring of 1967, leading to a tense build-up to war.

Israel, facing a growing threat on multiple fronts, mobilized its reserves and launched a diplomatic effort to garner international support for ending Egypt’s blockade.

However, diplomatic attempts failed, leaving Israel isolated and pressured to act.

TIMELINE, MAY 1967

May 14 Egypt mobilized its forces in and around the Suez Canal.

May 16 Egyptian forces moved eastward across the Sinai Desert to the Israeli border, demanding the withdrawal of the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) stationed there.

May 19 Egypt expelled UNEF from the Gaza Strip and Sinai while continuing to pour troops into these areas.

May 22 Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, an act Israel declared a casus belli.

May 24 to June 4 In response to Egypt’s call, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon mobilized their forces toward Israel’s borders.

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