Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 2: The escalating conflict, 1964–73 - 3 Israel and Egypt,…
Full specification wording
Option P5: Key topic 2: The escalating conflict, 1964–73 - 3 Israel and Egypt, 1967–73: Key events of the Yom Kippur War (1973) and its aftermath.
The Yom Kippur War began on 6 October 1973 with a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on the Jewish holy day.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Yom Kippur War began on 6 October 1973 with a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on the Jewish holy day. Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal, breaching the Bar Lev Line, while Syrian troops advanced into the Golan Heights. Israel, initially caught off guard, mobilised reserves and launched counter-offensives, eventually crossing the canal into Egypt and pushing towards Damascus. The USA and USSR supplied massive airlifts of weapons to their allies, risking superpower confrontation. A UN ceasefire ended the fighting on 25 October. The aftermath shattered Israel's aura of invincibility, restored Arab pride, and paved the way for future diplomatic negotiations, notably the Camp David Accords, while triggering a global oil crisis.
What earns the marks
- Detail the initial Arab successes, including the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal and the Syrian advance in the Golan Heights.
- Describe the Israeli counter-offensives that reversed early losses and pushed into Egyptian and Syrian territory.
- Explain the role of superpower airlifts (Operation Nickel Grass by the USA) in sustaining the conflict.
- Analyse the aftermath, focusing on the psychological shift: restored Arab confidence and Israeli recognition of vulnerability.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming the Arab states won the Yom Kippur War militarily.
Put it right: While Arab forces achieved early successes, Israel won the military conflict by pushing into Egypt and Syria before the ceasefire.
Ignoring the Syrian front.
Put it right: The war was a two-front conflict; Syria's attack on the Golan Heights was as crucial as Egypt's attack in the Sinai.
Stating the war led immediately to peace.
Put it right: The war led to a ceasefire and a shift in attitudes, but formal peace (like the Egypt-Israel treaty) took several more years of negotiation.
Exam tips
- Clearly distinguish between the initial phase of the war (Arab success) and the later phase (Israeli counter-attack).
- Highlight the significance of the surprise attack on Yom Kippur in explaining Israel's initial struggles.
- Connect the aftermath of the war directly to the subsequent willingness of both Egypt and Israel to engage in diplomacy.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P5: Key topic 2: The escalating conflict, 1964–73 - 3 Israel and Egypt, 1967–73: Key events of the Yom Kippur War (1973) and its aftermath. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
How did the Yom Kippur War begin in October 1973?
Listen
The Yom Kippur War began on 6 October 1973 with a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on the Jewish holy day. Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal, breaching the Bar Lev Line, while Syrian troops advanced into the Golan Heights. Israel, initially caught off guard, mobilised reserves and launched counter-offensives, eventually crossing the canal into Egypt and pushing towards Damascus. The USA and USSR supplied massive airlifts of weapons to their allies, risking superpower confrontation. A UN ceasefire ended the fighting on 25 October. The aftermath shattered Israel's aura of invincibility, restored Arab pride, and paved the way for future diplomatic negotiations, notably the Camp David Accords, while triggering a global oil crisis. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Detail the initial Arab successes, including the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal and the Syrian advance in the Golan Heights. Describe the Israeli counter-offensives that reversed early losses and pushed into Egyptian and Syrian territory. Explain the role of superpower airlifts (Operation Nickel Grass by the USA) in sustaining the conflict. Analyse the aftermath, focusing on the psychological shift: restored Arab confidence and Israeli recognition of vulnerability. A common slip: Claiming the Arab states won the Yom Kippur War militarily. Instead, While Arab forces achieved early successes, Israel won the military conflict by pushing into Egypt and Syria before the ceasefire. Exam tip: Clearly distinguish between the initial phase of the war (Arab success) and the later phase (Israeli counter-attack).
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