June 5, 1967

DUST AND STARS--TODAY IN JEWISH HISTORY (Abridged)

June 5, 1967:

First day of the Six Day War. In the weeks prior to the war, Israel had been subjected to constant shelling from the Golan Heights and Egypt’s blockade of the Straits of Tiran (Israel's only southern sea outlet). After Egyptian forces bombed Israeli villages, Israel responded defensively, capturing the Egyptian base at El-Arish, in the Sinai Peninsula. In a pre-emptive strike, the Israeli army destroyed virtually the entire Egyptian airforce on the ground. On the Syrian front, Israel succeeded in pushing the Syrians back to Kunetra and taking part of the Hermon range. In fewer than six days, Israel had routed all three of its neighbors, losing nearly 800 men with more than 2,500 wounded. More than 400 Arab planes and 500 tanks were destroyed. The UN Security Council unanimously ordered a cease-fire, which was not heeded.

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