|
After the Six-Days war of 1967, a mix of joy and arrogance took the Israeli public. The first few attempts by Israel to trade land for peace gave way to a feeling that peace is not necessary. The quick, total victory convinced the politicians and public that Israel can allow itself to give up nothing for peace, since the Arab states are not a threat. It was not that the Israeli public wanted war; it was just that, after years of being on the week side of the balance of power, they enjoyed feeling strong and independent. The public was sure that the Arabs are too scared to go to war again, ever. This is the reason to the Israeli refusal to treat Arab declarations seriously. When in 1970 Egypt's President, Sadat, declared that 1971 will be a decisive year in which Israel can choose war or peace, he was ignored by both the top politicians and military officers. This was a mistake. 1971 went by quietly, adding to Israeli self-assurance, but the Arabs were preparing for war. By the end of 1972, the Arabs more then rebuilt their forces, receiving thousands of state-of-the-art Soviet tanks, aircraft, and anti aircraft and anti-tank missiles. By October of 1973, the Arab forces were perfectly poised for attack. Israel was deep in Euphoria and IDF Intelligence Core assessments claimed that the Arabs will never attack, and that their moves are a result of training. A famous example of the arrogance in the IDF is the officer who reported, a few days before the start of the war, that the Egyptians are advancing their Anti-Aircraft missiles to the front of their forces, right at the bank of the Suetz canal. When this officer was asked as to the source of his report, he replied that he is looking at the missiles right now. He was then told that that he dose not know what a missile looks like because he is from Jerusalem, and no missiles are stationed near his house. From example of pure stupidity and over-confidence we can learn that IDF high ranking officers were convinced that the Arabs are still crushed, that they were not even able to change their mind even when war was obviously imminent... Between the 1st and the 5th of October, the general staff and government slowly changed their mind. It was too late. On 2pm of the 6th of October the Arab trap snapped shut on Israel. The 6th of October that year was also Yom Kippur, The Holiest day In the Jewish year. On this day Jews fast and ask forgiveness for their sins. Most of Israel's troops were at their houses. The Egyptians crossed the cannel in amazing force, And Syrian and Iraqi forces swept into the Golan Heights. |
|
|
Israeli forces were taken by surprise. In the south the Egyptians crossed the Canal easily, taking one Israeli position after the other. In the north The Syrians broke the southern edge of the Israeli defense line and were close to taking the Golan completely. For 48 critical hours Israel's small regular army fought to slow the Arab advance. Most casualties were caused at this part of the war. After the first few days, the reinforcement waves arrived. The Israeli forces tried to counter attack in the south but failed. In the Golan the northern Syrian effort failed and was stopped by the 7th armored Brigade. The Southern Syrian effort inn the Golan was slowly and painfully pushed back. By the 10th of October, IDF forces reached the Suez Canal and the Egyptians lost the initiative. But the War was far from over. It took Israel 2 more weeks of intense warfare to win the war.
In the north, Israel crossed into Syria and reached striking range from Damascus. In the south Israel crossed the canal into Egypt, encircling two Egyptian Armies. The war was won, but more then 2000 soldiers were killed and many more wounded. The Arabs lost tens of thousands. Israel was shaken, but alive. The war was followed by an investigation of the blunder. The military was blamed and the government was found not responsible for the mistakes. But the people knew that the government had a part in the catastrophe. This caused the resignation of Prime Minister Golda Meier and the Loss of the Labor party in the 1977 elections.While Egypt lost the military campaign, the war caused Israel to negotiate a peace treaty in 1978. The Egyptians got they wanted- The Sinai Dessert. Israel earned in blood two things-Peace, and military caution and alert, which are so important in the Middle East. |
|
