"Unhappy ‘Black Golden Anniversary’: Reflecting on 50 Years Since the Yom Kippur War"
Technicalities
As we reach the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, it's essential to reflect on this pivotal moment in history. This commemoration brings to light the stark contrast between the traditional symbolism of a golden anniversary and the somber reality of conflict. Here, we revisit the events that unfolded half a century ago and their lasting impact on international relations and economic stability.
The traditional gift for a 50th anniversary is gold, a symbol for optimism and wealth.
Part 1: The Flames of Conflict
Prelude to War
Fifty years ago last month, a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel, on the first day of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and the 10th day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The Spark of the Yom Kippur War
This attack was the culmination of sporadic conflict in the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, when Israeli forces had attacked the Egyptian air force, destroyed numerous Egyptian air bases and attacked Egyptian forces and positions in Sinai and Gaza, and Jordanian forces and positions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, occupying territory in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, which the Arab coalition sought to reclaim.
Diplomatic Undertones and Superpower Involvement
To the extent that it can be trusted, the US State Department continues to claim that
“The United States and the Soviet Union did not intervene in this conflict and pledged that they would make every effort to end the fighting. Soviet and U.S. officials cooperated in the United Nations Security Council to broker cease-fire agreements. Following the war, the issue of the return of Israel-occupied territories received most attention. U.S. President Johnson spoke out against any permanent change in the legal and political status of the Israeli-occupied territories and emphasized that Arab land should be returned only as part of an overall peace settlement that recognized Israel's right to exist. The principle of land for peace was embodied in United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 adopted in November 1967. Resolution 242 called for the Israeli withdrawal from the territories it had occupied following the 1967 war in exchange for peace with its neighbors [sic]. The land for peace formula served as the basis for future Middle East negotiations.”[1]
The Yom Kippur War (also known as the Ramadan War, the October War or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War) in 1973 resulted in a quite different outcome.
Prior to 1967 war, Arab states, including Jordan, had indicated an openness to a negotiated peace settlement. The aftermath of the Israeli invasion saw the leading Arab powers in the region, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, and Sudan, pass a joint resolution that became known as the ‘three nos’ – no peace with Israel no recognition of the state of Israel and no negotiation with Israel. The Israeli administration meanwhile embarked on a strategy of telling western, primarily American, supporters that it was open to returning the conquered territories and even passed a secret governmental resolution to do so, but insisted on a directly negotiated peace with its Arab neighbours (i.e. rejecting third part mediation) but somehow omitted to inform the Arab states of its willingness to return the territories or its willingness to negotiate.
We've journeyed through the initial flames that forged a conflict set against the backdrop of a milestone anniversary. But as the dust settles on this chapter, the narrative is far from complete. In "Part 2: Echoes of Consequence: The Diplomatic and Economic Aftermath," we will explore the ripples that emanated from the battlefield to the halls of power and across economies worldwide. Make sure to subscribe for the next installment where history's whispers become the conversations of today.