Middle East. Six-Day War. The Israeli Air Force annihilates the Egyptian Air Force, most of which is still on the ground, in a surprise attack. The army then moves south, conquering the Gaza Strip and the Sinai, north, taking the Golan Heights (June 9-10), and east, taking the West Bank (June 7). In Jerusalem, the fighting is hand-to-hand. In 130 hours of war, Israel changes the face of the Middle East. There are 676 dead and 2,563 wounded on the Israeli side, and 20,000 dead on the Arab side, with the loss of large quantities of military equipment. Israel’s success surpasses even the most optimistic forecasts of the military and politicians, who are stunned by the result. The Soviet Union tries to have the United Nations vote on a resolution condemning the Israelis and forcing them to withdraw, but it fails. On November 22, 1967, the United Nations approves the compromise Resolution 242. Israel has won the war. But it would not have won the peace. The “special relationship” between Israel and the United States was born during this period.
