The Trinity in Balance: Israel's Strategy for Victory in the Six Day War
Abstract
In the early morning hours of the 5th of June, 1967, the tiny besieged nation of Israel launched virtually its entire Air Force in an all-or-nothing gamble to guarantee its survival. During the preceding six weeks the world had watched while Israel's enemies had imposed a blockade, massed troops on borders, and openly broadcasted their intentions to "cut the Jews throats." In a little under three hours, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) destroyed the Egyptian Air Force on the ground. Before the day was out, the IAF had completely crippled the Syrian, Jordanian, and Iraqi air forces. The resultant unchallenged air superiority that the IAF secured during those first fateful hours ensured that Israeli Defense Force (IDF) ground operations against the Arabs on all fronts would be unhindered by enemy air and thoroughly supported by the IAF. When Israel suspended offensive operations on the 10th of June, after just six days combat, the IDF had effectively destroyed the ground forces of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The immediate threat had been eradicated, and Israel occupied the Sinai, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights as buffers against future aggression. In effect, the entire strategic paradigm of the region had been transformed. The sheer magnitude of the Israeli victory stunned the entire world, including the Israelis themselves. Countless studies and articles have examined the reasons for Israel's stunning success in the Six Day War. Most of these works understandably point to the operational and tactical brilliance of the Israeli military as the primary reason for victory. Although the IDF's courage and tactical brilliance ensured incredibly successful execution on the battlefield, Israel's national strategy in dealing with the crisis engineered the ultimate victory. That strategy exhibited a thorough understanding by Israeli leadership of the very nature of war itself as an instrument of national policy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA432958
Entities
People
- Jarrett D. Jordon
Organizations
- National Defense University