It is Much Longer than a Six Day War

The Six Day War should be marked, among other reasons, because 779 Israelis were killed in it and these six days are their yartzeit – their memorial days. Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the Israeli Air Force destruction of the Egyptian Air Force. Today is the 40th anniversary of fighting on three fronts. Tomorrow marks 40 years on the Gregorian calendar since the reunification of Jerusalem. But in some ways it doesn’t matter which day or how many days are marked. Six days in June 1967 are six days in a war that began before the establishment of the State of Israel and continues still.

The Six Day War should be marked, among other reasons, because 779 Israelis were killed in it and these six days are their yartzeit – their memorial days. Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the Israeli Air Force destruction of the Egyptian Air Force. Today is the 40th anniversary of fighting on three fronts. Tomorrow marks 40 years on the Gregorian calendar since the reunification of Jerusalem. But in some ways it doesn’t matter which day or how many days are marked. Six days in June 1967 are six days in a war that began before the establishment of the State of Israel and continues still.

The cause of the war is singular – and it isn’t Palestinians.

The war, its predecessors and its successors, are based in the rejection by people in the Arab and Muslim world – and their military suppliers elsewhere – of the legitimacy of Jewish sovereignty in the Middle East. The “Palestinian problem” exists only because in their unwillingness to give Israel a piece of the mandate, Arabs denied Arabs their piece as well. They believed then and now the establishment of Israel was a mistake by the international community. By political means or by military means they want it undone.

The 40th anniversary of the Six Day War is a good time to point out that despite the long war and the intermittent short and more intense battles, Israel has proven remarkably resilient. In the old days, it was “Auschwitz borders,” Syrian shelling of the Huleh Valley*, divided Jerusalem and the desecration of the city’s Jewish heritage. Today Israel guards Jerusalem as an open city for all religious faiths. Its technological prowess is the envy of many and provides opportunities for smart investors around the globe. Only the shortsighted – like the British Association of University teachers – choose to cut themselves off from Israeli technology and expertise.

But any day of any week of any year would be a good time to remind ourselves of those same strengths. And any day of any week of any year would be a good time for the Arab states and Muslim countries finally to reconcile themselves to Israel.

During the recent JINSA Flag & General Officers Trip to Israel (our 25th) we had the honor of visiting King Abdullah of Jordan, who told us “solving the Palestinian problem” was the most important regional issue. We politely disagree. But even taking his view, it doesn’t seem so hard to solve. The Arab states have to do now what they could not do in 1948 – accept the legitimacy and permanence of Israel. Then they can put pressure on the Palestinians to stop rocketing Israeli towns and stop teaching their children that Israel will disappear. The rest will follow, we believe, relatively easily.

Perhaps the most important outcome of those six days is that it increased Israel’s confidence in its ability to maintain its place in the region – by diplomacy where possible, by force where necessary. Forty years is long enough for others to make the leap.

*When the IDF reached the Golan Heights and saw that how Syrian soldiers had looked nearly straight down at Israeli houses from their positions, they erected a monument to the civilians. “From here, you look like giants,” it reads – testimony to their strength in adversity.