The Threat to Israel's Existence

[Gość: ELIE WEIZEL]

The Threat to Israel's Existence

Given the strength of the opposing armies and the physical size of the
country in 1967, Israel had every reason to fear these threats. It was a
small state, surrounded by heavily armed and hostile neighbors. In its pre-
1967 boundaries, Israel was only 15 kilometers (9 miles) wide at some
places. The armies of Israel's enemies in the West Bank and Gaza were
stationed a mere 18 km. (11 miles) from Tel Aviv, 35 km. (21 miles) from
Haifa, 11 km. (7 miles) from Ashkelon and only meters from Israeli
neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

These threats were not empty rhetoric. Hostile actions by Israel's neighbors
left little doubt as to either the seriousness of their intent or their
ability to carry out a massive assault on Israel.

In the weeks before the war, a coalition of Arab states - including Egypt,
Syria, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Iraq, Algeria and Kuwait - united
against Israel. As Egyptian President Nasser said on 30 May 1967, "The
armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of
Israel...to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of
Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation.... the critical hour
has arrived." War frenzy was sweeping through the Arab world.