The Impact of the Yom Kippur War on Israel and Egypt: A Comparative Analysis
TITLE
Assess the extent to which both Israel and Egypt benefited from the Yom Kippur War.
ESSAY
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the October War, had significant implications and consequences for both Israel and Egypt. From a military standpoint, Israel initially faced a surprise attack from Egypt and Syria in 1973 but managed to turn the tide and achieve military victory. However, the war also highlighted flaws in Israel's intelligence and leadership, leading to public outrage and the resignation of top officials. On the other hand, Egypt, under the leadership of President Anwar Sadat, used the conflict as a strategic move to regain territory lost in the 1967 Six-Day War and to assert its strength in the region.
From Egypt's perspective, the Yom Kippur War marked a turning point in its efforts to regain the Sinai Peninsula and restore national pride. The Egyptian forces' early successes in the war helped demonstrate their military capabilities and acted as a catalyst for future diplomatic initiatives. President Sadat, seeking to move Egypt from a position of weakness to one of strength, capitalized on the momentum gained from the conflict to push for peace negotiations with Israel. The subsequent Camp David Accords in 1978 and the signing of the Treaty of Washington in 1979 allowed Egypt to regain the Sinai Peninsula and established a framework for peaceful relations with Israel while improving Egypt's standing on the world stage.
On the other hand, Israel's military victory in the Yom Kippur War showcased its strength and resilience in the face of surprise attacks. However, the conflict also exposed deficiencies in intelligence and leadership, leading to public criticism and the resignation of top officials. Despite the military success, Israel faced challenges in addressing the political fallout and demands for accountability. The war served as a wake-up call for Israel to reassess its strategic intelligence capabilities and leadership decision-making processes.
In conclusion, while both Israel and Egypt experienced significant outcomes from the Yom Kippur War, it can be argued that Egypt benefited more politically and diplomatically from the conflict. President Sadat's strategic maneuvering following the war ultimately led to the restoration of Egyptian territory, improved international standing, and paved the way for the peace agreements with Israel. Israel, on the other hand, had to confront internal criticisms and reassess its intelligence and decision-making processes, despite its military successes during the conflict.
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HISTORY
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Assess the extent to which both Israel and Egypt benefited from the Yom Kippur War.
From the military point of view, the Yom Kippur War was a victory for the Israelis. The Egyptian and Syrian leaders secretly prepared for war, and a surprise attack was launched against Israel on 6 October 1973, on the Jewish holy day, Yom Kippur. Saudi Arabia provided Egypt with financial support. Egyptian forces achieved notable early successes, but then the Israelis managed to gain the initiative, counterattack, and cut off the Egyptian Third Army. Both the United States and the Soviet Union were involved in the war; the Soviet Union sent arms to Egypt and Syria, and the United States organized an airlift to Israel. When the Israelis crossed the Suez Canal, US forces were put on nuclear alert, but both superpowers wanted to avoid a confrontation; they demanded a ceasefire which the UN supported. Kissinger engaged in shuttle diplomacy between 1973 and 1975.
The Sinai I accord, 1974, allowed the Egyptians to retain control of the Suez Canal, freed the Third Army, and drew a ceasefire line on the east side of the canal, with a buffer zone between the two forces; the canal reopened in 1975. Sinai II was signed in September 1975 calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two strategic passes in the Sinai and some surrounding territory. Saudi Arabia began selling oil to the United States again. The fact that the Arabs had succeeded in surprising the Israel Defence Forces and inflicting heavy losses in the early part of the war was a traumatic experience for Israel. The public called for an enquiry and a commission, chaired by the president of Israel’s Supreme Court, concluded that Israeli intelligence had sufficient warning of the impending attack but failed to interpret the information correctly. The public blamed the Prime Minister, Golda Meir, and Defence Minister, Moshe Dayan. It was later revealed that the head of IDF intelligence made a critical error. Public outrage ultimately led Meir to resign.
However, it could be argued that the political victory belonged to Egypt. The Arab soldiers demonstrated that they could act together both in military planning and in the use of the oil weapon. Military involvement helped to restore Egyptian pride. Sadat aimed to move from the humiliation of 1967 to being in a strong position to negotiate peace. Israel had gained Sinai and Gaza from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank from Jordan in 1967. Sadat also wanted to resolve the country’s economic problems. From 1968–1979, Israel and Egypt waged what became a war of attrition over the Suez Canal; reopening the canal would help to restore Egypt’s economy. He was determined to regain Sinai, promising his people a settlement with Israel. He was prepared to recognize the state of Israel to regain this land, but Israel refused to negotiate. He needed US involvement to force Israel into peace negotiations, but a weak Egypt would not be taken seriously. The war achieved his goals of restoring Egyptian pride. Sadat emerged from the war as a world leader and had improved Egypt’s standing in the world. He could now seek peace. In November 1977, he flew to Israel and informed the parliament that he was prepared to live in peace and security, but he also wanted a solution for the Palestinians. In the following month, Menachem Begin went to Egypt; peace talks began but slowed down. In 1978 President Carter invited the two leaders to Camp David. It was agreed that Israeli forces were to be withdrawn from Sinai and that Egypt was to regain the whole of Sinai within three years. Israel was to have free shipping through the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran. In March 1979, the Treaty of Washington was signed, confirming the agreements reached at Camp David. The Palestinian problem still remained.