Fifty years ago, on October 6, 1973, Egypt launched a surprise attack against Israel from the south on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. In a coordinated strike, the Syrian army simultaneously attacked from the north. The Arabs sought revenge and the recovery of territory lost to Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, in which Israel's army took control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Yom Kippur War, which lasted until October 24, was not the rout Egypt and Syria had hoped for. Instead, after many initial missteps, Israel was able to repulse the invading armies. One key to Israel's advance in the south was getting across the Suez Canal into Egypt. The excerpt below from Uri Kaufman's book EIGHTEEN DAYS IN OCTOBER: THE YOM KIPPUR WAR AND HOW IT CREATED THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST (St. Martin's Press, August) details how amphibious boats-the least likely of Israel's options to bring troops and artillery across the canal-moved 120 vehicles in 30 hours and made the ceasefire which ended the conflict possible. Israel's victory in 1973 resulted in a series of "Separation Agreements" that forced its Arab neighbors to withdraw their armies far from any future battlefield. Thus deprived of any military option, the Arabs were faced with a stark choice: make peace with losing the 1967 lands or make peace with Israel. Egypt's Anwar Sadat made peace with Israel in 1979 and received the Sinai Peninsula in return. Syria's leaders-Hafez el-Assad and his son Bashar el-Assad-refused to make peace, and the Golan Heights remains under Israeli control today. As Kaufman says in his book, "the surrounding of the Egyptian Third Army, the early end of the war, the signing of the Camp David peace treaty five years later were all made possible by discarded, secondhand vehicles bought for $5,000 a copy. Military history contains few examples of such a good return on such a trivial investment."
This story is from the October 13, 2023 edition of Newsweek US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 13, 2023 edition of Newsweek US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Exhausted No More
Political polarization has led to burned-out Americans, weary of civic discourse. The answer lies not in disengagement but, rather, positive engagement
Reef Rehab
Innovative concrete structures mix with corals to defend the coastline during hurricane season
Biden's European Headache
The right-wing surge in the EU elections could hamper the president's ambitions in Ukraine and play into the hands of his election rival, Donald Trump
Lupita Nyong'o
THE TRAILER FOR A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (JUNE 28) SHOWS STAR LUPITA Nyong'o carrying a cat around moments before New York City is overtaken by aliens.
Do Films Have a Future?
With the movie industry under threat from streaming and Al, experts predict how Tinseltown will look in 10 years' time
MOST TRUSTED by PHARMACISTS OTC BRANDS in AMERICA 2024
HEADACHES, UPSET STOMACHS AND FEVERS-THESE ARE some of the minor conditions that many people treat with over-the-counter medication.
DISSENTING OPINIONS
BUCKING THEIR TRADITIONAL RESERVE, JUDGES FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM ARE PUBLICLY DISAGREEING WITH THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND DECISIONS
'I'm Happy To Disrupt'
Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver talks to Newsweek about Trump, Biden, NATO, Gaza and maximum freedom
Budget Battle
Protesters demonstrate in Kenya's capital city as the country's members of parliament debate a finance bill on June 18.
AMERICA'S BEST SPECIALISTS & SURGEONS
FINDING THE BEST MEDICAL SPECIALIST IS A DAUNTING TASK for anyone requiring specific treatment.