Israel. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol hands over the Ministry of Defense to Moshe Dayan. The air in the Middle East is saturated with hatred and violence. Neighboring Arab nations, led by Egypt, have formed an anti-Israeli coalition and built up military forces along Israel’s border. On June 5, the Israeli Air Force annihilates the Egyptian air force, most of which are 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 surpassed even the most optimistic predictions of the military and politicians, who were shocked by the outcome. The Soviet Union attempted to push the United Nations for a resolution condemning Israel’s withdrawal, but it failed. On November 22, 1967, the United Nations approved Resolution 242, a compromise. Israel had won the war. But it would not have won the peace. During this period, the “special relationship” between Israel and the United States was born.
