In the spring of 1967, Nasser began to threaten to go to war with Israel. In May he demanded that the United Nations Emergency Force leave Sharm al-Shaykh, and moved Egyptian troops to occupy the strategic port town. Nasser then closed the strategic Straits of Tiran, cutting Israel off from the Red Sea. Israel considered these moves acts of war and prepared for combat.
During the previous year, Israel had suffered increasing terrorist attacks by Palestinian groups in Syrian and Jordanian territories and had aggressively retaliated against Syria and Jordan. The Israeli government felt itself surrounded by hostile forces.
On June 5, 1967, Israel launched a surprise attack against Egypt. Six days later, Israel had defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and captured Gaza Strip, the Sinai peninsula, Golan Heights, and West Bank. Israel proclaimed a united Jerusalem as its capital, which outraged Arabs and Muslims, for whom Jerusalem is the third holiest city.
More than 300,000 Palestinian refugees fled into neighboring Arab countries. Another 1.5 million remained in Gaza Strip and West Bank, known since as the Occupied Territories. Immediately after the war, Israel destroyed three Arab villages. Soon thereafter, Israel began confiscating Arab lands to build Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and Jewish settlements in the conquered areas.
Situation 1967: You are a member of the United Nations. Which of the following responses to the 1967 war do you think most fairly addresses the concerns of all groups involved?
CHOICE A: Support Israel against its hostile Arab neighbors by recognizing Israel's capture of the Occupied Territories.
CHOICE B Pass a resolution condemning the acquisition of land through military conquest, refuse to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and demand the return of the Occupied Territories.
CHOICE C: Send peacekeeping forces into the Occupied Territories to act as a buffer between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians, as well as to guard the borders against further fighting.
CHOICE D: Establish an international commission to study the situation in Israel/Palestine, and devise a plan to bring peace to the region.
Discuss with your group to make a collective decision. The editor will write down your group's the justification in the Google Form, card holder will reveal your group's decision when polled, and the presenter will prepare to discuss your group's response to the class.