Page 73 - History of War - Issue 25-16

YOM KIPPUR WAR

Fallout military conl ict might not always end in its
The end of the 1973 war signalled the favour. Israel’s standing grew in the eyes of
beginning of the end for the pan-Arabism the American public, who they saw as being
project, and Nasser’s dream of a united Arab locked into a battle between David and
world crumbled. The Muslim Brotherhood, Goliath. Likewise, Egypt’s inclination towards
who saw Sadat as a traitor for suing for negotiation increased its positive perception
peace with Israel, began to rise in prestige as well. Syria was left marginalised as the sole
on the Egyptian streets as the opposition state that refused to enter negotiations with
to the status quo, rather than the USSR. On Israel or capitulate.
6 October 1981, while ofi ciating a military After the ceasei re, the US was able to
parade commemorating the 1973 war, Anwar expand its inl uence in the region by gaining
Sadat was assassinated by a militant linked to allies and making the climate more favourable
the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. The ensuing power for negotiations for Israel. Ultimately, the
dynamic would shape his successor Hosni war led to the 1978 Camp David Accords
Mubarak’s dictatorship, the Arab Spring and between Sadat and Menachem Begin by US
Egyptian politics into the modern day. President Jimmy Carter, and, subsequently, to
Israel was the clear winner of the war, the 1994 peace agreement between Jordan’s
despite the setbacks it had incurred. After the King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin conducted by
conl ict, the United States brought two of its President Bill Clinton. It also led to the attempt
earlier enemies, Egypt and – later – Jordan, to at the Oslo agreements with the PLO and Israel.
the negotiating table. This domino effect, starting from the end of
Despite this, the 1973 war was the last the 1973 war, left behind the ambience for the
direct conventional military confrontation current uneasy peace that has prevailed ever
between Israel and its Arab neighbours. since – a drama to be played out in the halls of
After the unexpected success of the initial power, the UN, and the negotiation table rather
Egyptian and Syrian attacks, Israel saw that than on the battleield.

THEFINALOUTCOMEOFTHE1973WAR

THE STAGED WITHDRAWAL
Israel negotiated with Egypt for a staggered QUNEITRA
return of the Sinai in 1975, 1979 and 1982 to
complete Egyptian control following the war
Israeli pilot Shimshon Rozen climbs into and subsequent Camp David talks. Although it SYRIA
his American F-4 Phantom II jet, which saw may have been unpopular at home following the
extensive action over the Golan Heights peace treaty, Israel’s willingness to negotiate ISRAEL
following the 1973 war demonstrates that the
Arab states may have been able to secure better
terms had they negotiated then. JERICHO
JERUSALEM
JORDAN

EGYPT
THE GOLANI UNDOF
In the Golan, the outcome was
different than in Egypt. Syrian
1975 1979 1982 President Hafez al Assad refused
to sign a full peace agreement
with Israel. In its stead, Syria
and Israel signed a simple
SINAI ceasei re that was negotiated
through shuttle diplomacy. UN
PENINSULA Resolution 338 established an
immediate ceasei re, the terms
of which were agreed upon on
31 May 1974. The same day, the
UN passed Resolution 350 and
established the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force
(UNDOF) in the Golan along the
ceasei re lines. When the Israelis
withdrew, they dynamited the
entire town of Quneitra.

November 9 November 1 January 1974 19 February 1974 6 June 1974
Arab oil-producing nations announce a Kissinger and the US secretary of state Kissinger meets with Sadat in the Anwar Sadat holds a Israel, in agreement with a
cut in oil production, sending Western hold a meeting with Sadat in Cairo. Two Egyptian city of Aswan. The next day ceremony in the Egyptian ceasei re with Syria, pulls Images: Alamy, FreeVectorMaps
markets into a panic. The US sees record days later, Israelis and Egyptians sign he goes to Tel Aviv and negotiates a parliament to decorate out of Quneitra in the Golan.
high oil prices and begins to consider new a ceasei re agreement that guarantees disengagement between Egyptian Egyptian forces as Israel However, it destroys the
strategies for foreign oil and interests in daily convoys of non-military supplies General Mohamed el-Gamasy, the begins its withdrawal. town with dynamite. Syrian
the region. Within four months, the Arab to Suez and the Third Egyptian army. Egyptian chief of staff, and his Israeli Israel keeps control of the authorities leave the town in
oil-producing states will end the embargo. POWs from both sides are exchanged. counterpart, General David Elazar. Sinai Desert for now. ruins as a monument.

73