Option P5: Key topic 2: The escalating conflict, 1964–73 - 2 Aftermath of the 1967 war — Edexcel GCSE History
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Option P5: Key topic 2: The escalating conflict, 1964–73 - 2 Aftermath of the 1967 war explained
Following the 1967 war, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242, establishing the 'land for peace' formula.
Read the full explanation
It called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in the recent conflict and the acknowledgement of the sovereignty and political independence of every state in the area. However, ambiguous wording led to differing interpretations and failure to implement it. Meanwhile, the Suez Canal remained closed and became a heavily fortified frontline. The continued dispute over the Canal led to the War of Attrition (1967-1970), involving artillery duels and commando raids between Egypt and Israel.
Palestinian refugees and the significance of the occupied territories: Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Sinai and East Jerusalem.
The 1967 war created a new wave of Palestinian refugees, with over 300,000 fleeing the West Bank and Gaza to neighbouring Arab states like Jordan, exacerbating the existing refugee crisis. The occupied territories held immense strategic and ideological significance. The Golan Heights provided a military vantage point over northern Israel and Syria. The Sinai offered a vast strategic buffer zone against Egypt. The West Bank and Gaza Strip contained large Palestinian populations, changing Israel's demographic balance. East Jerusalem held profound religious significance for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and its annexation by Israel was highly controversial.
The use of terrorism, Israel’s response and international attitudes towards the Palestine issue: the PFLP airplane hijacks of 1970; Black September and the Munich Olympics. The expulsion of the PLO from Jordan (1970).
Frustrated by Arab military defeats, Palestinian groups turned to international terrorism to highlight their cause. In 1970, the PFLP hijacked multiple international airliners to Dawson's Field in Jordan, blowing them up. This challenged King Hussein's authority, leading to the violent expulsion of the PLO from Jordan in 1970, known as 'Black September'. The PLO relocated to Lebanon. In 1972, the Black September splinter group took Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics, resulting in the deaths of 11 Israelis. Israel responded with targeted assassinations (Operation Wrath of God) and airstrikes. These events forced the international community to recognise the Palestinian issue, though terrorism drew widespread condemnation.
Your focus
- Define the key terms and principles of UN Resolution 242.
- Analyse the reasons why UN Resolution 242 was not successfully implemented.
- Describe the nature and impact of the continued dispute over the Suez Canal.
Show all 9 objectives
- Explain the causes and scale of the Palestinian refugee crisis resulting from the 1967 war.
- Identify the specific strategic, religious, and demographic significance of each occupied territory.
- Analyse how the occupation of these territories altered the political landscape of the Middle East.
- Describe the key terrorist events carried out by Palestinian groups, including the PFLP hijacks and the Munich Olympics massacre.
- Explain the causes and consequences of the PLO's expulsion from Jordan in 1970.
- Analyse Israel's response to terrorism and the resulting shift in international attitudes towards the Palestine issue.
Option P5: Key topic 2: The escalating conflict, 1964–73 - 2 Aftermath of the 1967 war exam tips
Marking Points
- Explain the core principle of UN Resolution 242: 'land for peace'.
- Identify the key demands: Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and Arab recognition of Israel's right to exist.
- Discuss the ambiguity in the resolution's wording and how it hindered implementation.
- Describe the closure of the Suez Canal following the 1967 war.
- Explain how the Suez Canal became the frontline for the War of Attrition between Egypt and Israel.
- Detail the scale of the new Palestinian refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands displaced.
- Explain the strategic military value of the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula to Israel.
- Discuss the demographic impact of occupying the West Bank and Gaza Strip, bringing over a million Palestinians under Israeli control.
- Highlight the religious and political significance of East Jerusalem to both Israelis and Palestinians.
- Note the strain placed on neighbouring Arab countries, particularly Jordan, by the influx of refugees.
- Describe the PFLP airplane hijackings to Dawson's Field in 1970 as a tactic to gain international attention.
- Explain the events of 'Black September' (1970), where King Hussein used the Jordanian army to expel the PLO to Lebanon.
- Detail the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, where the Black September group killed 11 Israeli athletes.
- Outline Israel's response, including Operation Wrath of God (targeted assassinations) and military strikes on PLO bases.
- Discuss how these terrorist acts shifted international attitudes, bringing global awareness to the Palestinian cause but also widespread condemnation.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Memorise the phrase 'land for peace' as a shorthand for the core concept of Resolution 242.
- 💡Be able to explain why the English and French translations of Resolution 242 caused diplomatic friction.
- 💡Link the failure of Resolution 242 directly to the outbreak of the War of Attrition along the Suez Canal.
- 💡Create a table listing each occupied territory and its specific strategic, religious, or demographic significance.
- 💡When discussing refugees, mention the impact on host countries like Jordan to show broader contextual understanding.
- 💡Use specific terms like 'buffer zone' for Sinai and 'demographic shift' for the West Bank and Gaza.
- 💡Link the failure of conventional Arab armies in 1967 to the rise of Palestinian terrorism as an alternative strategy.
- 💡Be precise with dates and locations: Dawson's Field (Jordan, 1970), Munich (West Germany, 1972).
- 💡When discussing international attitudes, ensure you balance the increased awareness of the Palestinian issue with the condemnation of terrorist methods.
Common Mistakes
- Error: Claiming UN Resolution 242 was successfully implemented immediately. Correction: The resolution was accepted in principle but failed in practice due to differing interpretations.
- Error: Stating the Suez Canal remained open to international shipping. Correction: The Canal was blocked by sunken ships and mines, remaining closed from 1967 until 1975.
- Error: Ignoring the War of Attrition. Correction: The continued dispute over the Suez Canal directly caused the War of Attrition, which must be mentioned.
- Error: Confusing the 1948 refugee crisis with the 1967 refugee crisis. Correction: While related, the 1967 crisis involved a new wave of displacement, primarily from the newly occupied West Bank and Gaza.
- Error: Treating all occupied territories as having the same significance. Correction: Differentiate between the strategic value of Sinai/Golan and the demographic/religious importance of the West Bank/East Jerusalem.
- Error: Assuming Israel annexed all the occupied territories immediately. Correction: Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem, but the other territories were placed under military occupation.
- Error: Confusing the events of Black September (the 1970 expulsion from Jordan) with the Black September organisation (the group behind the 1972 Munich attack). Correction: Clearly distinguish between the 1970 conflict in Jordan and the terrorist group named after that event.
- Error: Stating that the PLO was expelled from Lebanon in 1970. Correction: The PLO was expelled from Jordan in 1970 and relocated to Lebanon.
- Error: Assuming international attitudes were entirely sympathetic to the Palestinian cause after these events. Correction: While awareness increased, the use of terrorism was heavily condemned globally.