The Arab-Israeli War of 1973 - Coursework Example

THE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR OF 1973   Introduction In many parts of the world, countries have engaged in various kinds of wars and conflicts. Wars and conflicts have led to loss of lives of millions of people and loss of property in many places. All across the world, no one loves to participate in or be affected by wars because the effects of these experiences are worse than how people would want it to be. Currently, the United Nations plays an essential role in the process of mediating warring nations so that they do not engage in wars and other kinds of conflicts because of the effects that such actions bring to the citizens. In many parts of the world, various examples exist of countries that have found themselves in various problems because of the effects of civil wars and other kinds of conflicts within those countries and their neighbors. Central Africa is a good example of how conflicts affect economic growth and development; the same has been the case in many parts of Asia and certain countries in Europe where war with neighboring countries has resulted in destruction of infrastructure and many other aspects of human life. In fact, the First and Second World Wars are good examples of these effects, where people still suffer from the nuclear bombings that happened in Japan. In many instances, the effects of wars and conflicts often go beyond the times of that conflict. For instance, nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki have seen people being born with various forms of deformities, decades after the end of the wars. Nowadays, countries have modified their technologies and other kinds of weapons that are dangerous in case they happen to engage in wars and conflicts. In this regard, it is of prime importance that countries should try to solve their differences diplomatically and avoid the direction of wars. This paper analyses the operations level that accompanied the planning and prosecution of the campaigns waged by the principal participants of the Arab-Israel War of 1973. Arab-Israel War of 1973. Developments to the Arab-Israel conflicts The Arab-Israel War or conflict describes the military conflicts and political tensions that have been taking place between Israel and certain countries in the Arab world1. The conflict between the Israel nation and certain Arabian countries has been happening since many decades ago. The United Nations and other countries have tried their best in order to calm the tensions between these countries and restore peace and harmony in these places. It is believed that the origins of the present day conflicts between the Arabs and Israel are expected to rise of the Arab nationalism and Zionism that began towards the end of years in the 19th century. It is believed that these conflicts were fueled by territorial differences, in which the Israel nation is said t have occupied a land that was originally theirs. The Arab countries have tried without much success to have the Israelites vacate and move to other places. However, it is important to note that the political, social and religious differences between these two countries cannot be understood effectively, since it has become quite complex. In fact, the Jewish people have stayed firm that the territory in which they belong is their present homeland and cannot move away from it, despite the Palestinian Arabs claiming that this is not true2. It is important to understand that sectarian conflicts between the Arabs and Palestinian Jews started back in the 20th century reaching its peak and full scale during the civil war that happened in 1947; in this case, war transformed, resulting in the Arab-Israel war, being the first one in 1948. This was initiated by the declaration by Gurion David Ben, whose declaration established the Israel state in the Eretz-Israel. In the recent decades this war has shifted over the years to become a large scale regional conflict between the Arabs and Israel. It has risen to become a war pitting the Palestinians and Israelis. Many of these hostilities came to a slight ceasefire during the Yom Kim conflict or war that took place in 1973. After the end of this war, these countries engaged in various peace agreements that were signed between Egypt and Israel in 1979, as well as Jordan and Israel in 1994. The provisional Oslo accords played a leading role towards the establishment of Palestinian national Authority that happened in 1994, though a lasting peace deal is yet to be approached. Currently, a cease-fire is existent between Syria and Israel and Lebanon, which began in 2006. The conflict that took place between the Israel Nation and Gaza, which is ruled by the Hamas group led to the cease-fire agreement. However, this ceasefire has not been very successful because fighting is still evident between Israel and this group, and has taken place for a long time. All these wars and conflicts have characterized the war between certain countries in the Arab world and the Israel State. Despite these peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt and the present cease-fire deals that currently exist, Israel and the Arab world has continued to be at odds, over territorial and other matters of prime importance between these countries3. It is important to note that the United Nations and other countries that hold a strong influence on the world security have been trying to strike a deal between these two warring parties without much success. However, not all is completely lost because efforts are still underway to establish long lasting peace deals that will guarantee peace between Israel and most countries in the Arab world. The Religious Aspects of the conflict Some analysts have tried to explain that the conflicts between the Arabs and Israel are largely fronted by religious differences between these two nations. On one hand, we have a country that believes in the Qur’an, which according to the Muslims is the Holy book that has to be respected by all people in the world. The Israelites believe that the Bible is the Most Holy Book, with Jesus being the savior of all human kind. In this kind of differing religions believes, it become shard for the two nations to agree on several grounds. The Israelites believe that they are a chosen people by god, who promised to settle them in the “Promised land,” as well as in Jerusalem, which is the “Chosen City.” This is the reason why, they have declared that nothing can move them from their present homeland because it is the place that god promised their ancestors that he would resettle them. The land of Eretz, also known as Canaan, was in fact the Promised Land, according to the Hebrew bible. In fact, this concept is mentioned in the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an. The Muslims in this region have continued to say that the claim some rights to this land according to the Qur’an. This is contrary to the Jewish, who claim that this land was given by God, which was a covenant made by Abraham and god, that his descendants would be resettled in a land of their own, which is Canaan. The Muslims say that the land was actually promised to the eldest son of Abraham – Ishmael whose ancestry has resulted in the present day Islam; this reasoning forms the basis of their argument that they are entitled to certain rights in the land. This conflicting view about the land of Canaan has in fact between the cornerstone of the differences between the Arab countries and Israel. Many people have perished and lost many properties while defending their stands over the actual ownership of Canaan, which is the land causing controversy and conflict between these nations. While these nations continue to hold firm their religious believes about the land, it is evident that other kinds of arguments need to be used in the process of creating lasting peaceful solutions between Israel and the Arab countries. One of the things that can perhaps play a role in reaching these solutions could be that these countries invite each other to dialogue and establish agreements that can be respected by the warring parties. The Arab-Israel War Of 1973 The Arab-Israel war that happened in 1973 is also referred to as the Ramadan War, Yom Kippur or the October War4. This was involved the coalition some Arab Nations, that were led by Syria and Egypt, fighting against Israel. The war is believed to have taken place in 1973, in the month of October between 6th and 25th. Planning and execution of strategy The war started when the Arab countries that had formed their formidable coalition made a joint attack on positions initially held by Israel. This was such a surprise that the Israel army had not anticipated or fully prepared for it. Most of the attacks were aimed at the Yom Kippur, which is a territory that had been held by the Israel. The war was specially prepared, taking place on one of the days regarded as very holy in the calendar of Judaism. Additionally, it took place during the Muslim’s holy month Ramadan. On this day, the Syrian and Egyptian forces crossed the ceasefire lines entering into the Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula respectively. The Israel army, in a six-day war had initially captured these places in 1967. Both the Soviet Union and United States had participated in the war, resupplying weapons and other supplies to their allies, whereby the Soviet Union supported the Arab Coalition, with the United States stated standing by the Israel army. This involvement almost resulted in a serious confrontation between the two countries of a string nuclear might, something that would have spelt worse in the history of the world. This was carefully planned by the Arab coalition, who managed to take the Israelis by surprise, while concentrating on the celebrations and activities of Yom Kippur, the holy day in the Judaism calendar. The war began when the mighty Egyptians successful crossed the Suez Canal. After successfully crossing the ceasefire lines the Egyptians went further into the interior, reaching the Sinai Peninsula without facing any opposition. It took three days for the Israel army to strategize and mobilize its forces. Within this time, the Israel army managed to stop further offensive by the Egyptians, thus resulting in a stalemate. On the other hand, the Syrian forces went on with their offensive, managing to launch attacks on Golan Heights; this coincided with the offensive that was launched by the Egyptians. This strategy seemed to work very well, since it managed to make entry into the territories that had been held by the Israelis. Israel’s Response The Israel forces were better prepared in terms of strategy and weaponry. It took them only three days to repel the Syrian invasion, pushing them further back to the ceasefire line prior to the war. After managing to push the Syrians and Egyptians back to their cease-fire lines, Israel’s forces launched retaliatory responses. The Israelis started on a counter-offensive mission, going deep into the territory of Syria, killing thousands of the Syrian army and many other civilian populations. During the offensive mission, Israel’s artillery began shelling parts of Damascus, especially on the outskirts. This made the President of Egypt at that time to be worried about the state of its major ally. In his perspective, he thought that if he could successfully managed to only two passes that were strategic, located deep in Sinai; it would be quite easier for him especially during the negotiations. In this regard, he reorganized his army and sent them on again on another offensive mission in the Israel territory. However, the Israelis had prepared themselves adequately, and managed to repel them, pushing them back into their territory. The Israelis wanted to prove their superiority to the Egyptians; they managed to counterattack the seam that separates the two nations, crossing deeper beyond the Suez Canal. After crossing, the Egyptian army began advancing to the southern parts and westwards to Cairo. This happened in over a week that witnessed intense fighting between these two sides, resulting into heavy casualties that happened in both sides. During this time, many of the civilian populations were killed and properties worth millions of money being destroyed. The Egyptians seemed to have suffered heavily, after the Israelis, with their powerful army and artillery reached into their territory. Efforts of ending the war Owing to the harm and injuries that the war had inflicted on both parties, there was a great need to bring cease-fire between the warring parties. The United States managed to intervene creating a ceasefire deal that took place on 22nd of October in the same year. However, both sides remained to blame each other as being the cause of the war. In only two days after the cease fire deal, the Israelis had managed to improve their positions effectively and encircled the third army of the Egyptians including the Suez City. This development is believed to have been worse since it caused serious tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. Because of this, anther ceasefire agreement had to be imposed in a bid to avoid further conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union in response to their allies that were settling down after an end of the war. Implications of the war From the way these Egyptians and Syrians had managed to invade and win during the first three days, they thought they had won the war. However, the response of the Israelis, assisted by the United States, proved to be very effective. The response of the Israelis was strategically planned, managing to push the Egyptians and the Syrians back to their territories. This war is said to have had serious implications on these two countries. In the first aspect, the coalition of the Arab world had been heavily humiliated because of the lopsided tumult of the Egyptian–Syrian–Jordanian coalition, during the war, which lasted for a total of only six days. This group felt that they had been psychologically vindicated because of the initial success they had enjoyed during the conflict. For Israel, they enjoyed the fact they had managed to repel and push their enemies back to their territories. However, the war gave them an opportunity to learn some important lessons about their location and position in the Arab world. Irrespective of the impressive tactical and operational achievements during the war, it made Israel to know that it did not have any guarantee that it was dominant in the military states of the Arabs. These changes were very effective in causing various peace processes. In 1978, the accords of Camp David led to the return of Sinai back to Egypt, causing a normalization of relations between these countries. This became one of the initial peaceful recognitions of Israel as a sovereign state by country in the Arab world. However, Egypt did not stay into the Soviet Union; instead, it drifted away, finally leaving it completely. Combat Operations and planning The success of this war for the Arab coalition and the Israelis in their response provides a good hint into how these warring parties manage to plan effectively for the war. In the first case, it is important to note that the Israelis were taken by surprise, being attacked on the day they were on their holy day in the Judaism calendar. On their side, they might have thought that the Arab countries would be concentrating on their Ramadan, which was also taking place during that month. Generally, a lot can be learnt from the tactical preparations that went into the war, especially at the Sinai. This place was the centre of action between the Egyptians and the Israelis. On their side, the Egyptians had effectively prepared themselves to launch an assault; in this regard, they had managed to cross the Suez and going further into the Israel territory as far as Sinai without facing any meaningful resistance. Egyptian’s Strategy The Egyptians had managed to mobilize a string army that reached about 100,000 soldiers; it has about 1,350 tanks with more than 2,000 guns and many heavy mortars to be used during the onslaught. In front of them, approximately 450 soldiers belonging to the great Jerusalem Brigade were confronting them5. These solders had been strategically spread in the 16 forts along the canal. The Israel tanks totaled about 290 in the entire Sinai and had been effectively divided into three major brigades that had been heavily armored. Something surprising was that among all these brigades, only one had been deployed adjacent to the Canal at the time the hostilities by the Egyptians had begun. On 6th of October in the same year, large armored brigades had been established and set in place on many parts of the east bank. The armored forces of the Israel Army responded swiftly to the invasion by the Egyptians launching counterattacks after the Egyptians had invaded the Israel territory. However, since the Egyptians had caught them by surprise, these retaliatory attacks soon after the Egyptians had invaded were quite weak and lacking in strength6. For this reason, they were easily beaten by the Egyptians army, which had prepared itself adequately, with powerful and portable anti-tank missiles. Sensing that their allies were being overpowered, The United States announced a ceasefire on 9th and 12th October. Israelites response Later, the Israel soldiers began receiving a consistent flow of arms and other kinds of artillery that would help them repel the Egyptians and defeat them, sending them back to their territories. In their attacks, the Egyptian army realized that it was not possible for them to go beyond a certain point, this was the shallow strip near Sinai, they feared that doing so would make the loose their protection of surface-to-air missile batteries, which had been strategically located towards the west bank area of the canal. By the six day of the invasion, the Israel army had recollected itself adequately with military and weapon might. In this regard, they managed to push back the Arab armies that had become defenseless, lacking the strategy and the military strength that would have enabled them to maintain their resistance on the Israel Defense forces. For the Egyptians, they had made enough preparations; they had effectively fortified their wing suing the SAM batteries they had received from the Soviet Union7. In this case, the Israel defense forces could not respond immediately because they had been taken by surprise. During the initial phases of the war, the Israel’s army could not manage to launch retaliatory attacks on the Arab and Egyptians, despite that it had heavily invested in creating the strongest army in the region. In order to manage the invasion, the Israel defense forces had to develop other strategies that would enable it to manage those of its enemies. On 9th of October, three days after the invasion, the Israel defense forces began concentrating on its reserves towards building supplies. This was contrary to the Egyptian army, which had decided to remain on its strategic defensive strategy. The Israel began ordering for more supply of weapons and different forms of artillery. Realizing that they were running low on weapons and artillery, Israel tried to negotiate for a ceasefire that was to take place on 12th of October. The Soviet Union, in the process of arming their allies, began air lifting weapons and other supplies to the Egyptian and Syrian armies8. The Americans, on other hand, because infuriated by the actions of the Soviet Union, to this effect they did not want to see the Soviet Union dictating the outcome of the war. In this regard, they also began supplying arms and other war supplies to the Israel Defense forces. The United States was waiting to see the Israelites succeed in the war so that it could persuade the Egyptian and Syrian governments to agree to a cease-fire deal. After getting help from the Americans, the Israelis managed to fight bank, pushing the Syrian armies and Egyptian armies back to their territories. They managed to push the Syrian armies deeper into the country destroying most of the armies and civilian populations. For the Egyptians, they pushed them further into Egypt, crossing the Suez Canal. They came westwards, reaching as far as Cairo, an offensive that dealt a major blow to the Egyptian armies. The Israelites, in their retaliation to the Egyptian invasions went as far as the southward, reaching to the east bank region, all the way to the Great Lake Bitter. According to the Americans, a better way to end the war was when all the parties still had their self esteem high, safeguarding their crucial interests. This perhaps explains the reason why they accepted and let the Israelites advance further into Syria and Egypt, even when they were violating the ceasefire agreements. The United States, realizing how far the Israelites had reached into Egypt and the harm they had caused on the country, they could not let it destroy the country’s army. This is the reason why they had to intervene and make the country to agree to a cease-fire deal with Egypt, which took place on the 24th of October. The progress of the Israelites ended after the signing of the ceasefire deal on 24th of October in 1978. Relevant lesson for contemporary commanders from the Arab-Israel war of 1973 The operational and planning processes that happened during this war provides important lesson that modern commanders can learn from in the process of leading their armies in wars and other conflicts. First, planning is an important element that should be given prime importance in the management and success of any war or conflict. The Syrians and Egyptian armies did a lot of planning before launching their attack on Israel. The comprehensive planning made them manage to go deeper into Israel during the first three days, getting the Israelites by surprise. For modern commander, they did not understand that the success of any strategy in war does not necessarily depend on the sophisticated weapons and artillery that the enemy may have, but the planning that has to be done before implementing it9. However, a good plan has to be effective supported in order to be effective for a long period. The Egyptians and Syrian did not fortify their plan. This is the reason why three days after the invasions, the Israelites manage to reorganize themselves and launch retaliatory attacks on the enemies, pushing them deeper beyond the ceasefire lines10. In this case, the Israelites response offers good lesson that commanders can learn from the conflict. In this case, it is important that the know how to plan and execute their strategy on war and other areas of conflicts. A good conflict and war strategy does not have to be rushed; instead, it has to be executed in the most effective way, checking on all the possibilities for success and defeating the enemy. Bibliography Bellamy, Alex. 2009. War. London: Routledge. Chomsky, Noam. 2003. Middle East Illusions: Including Peace in the Middle East? : Reflections on Justice and Nationhood. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Cimbala, Stephen J. 2010. The George W. Bush Defense Program Policy, Strategy & War. Washington, D.C.: Potomac. Cordesman, Anthony. 2003. The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics and Military Lessons. Westport, Conn.: Praeger. Hampton, Wilborn. 2007. War in the Middle East: A Reporters Story: Black September and the Yom Kippur War. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. Kamrava, Mehran. 2005. The Modern Middle East a Political History since the First World War. Berkeley: U of California. Rabinovich, Abraham. 2004. The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle East. New York: Schocken. Rosenberg, Aaron. 2004. The Yom Kippur War. New York: Rosen Pub. Group. Ross, Dennis. 2004. The Missing Peace: The inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Smith, Charles. 2010. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. Read More