Start free
  • Israel since 1948: State and Society

What caused the Six Day War?

Quick answer

The Six-Day War was caused primarily by an escalating crisis in May 1967. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser moved troops into the Sinai Peninsula, expelled United Nations peacekeepers, and closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping. Fearing an imminent invasion by combined Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian forces, Israel launched a preemptive strike on June 5, 1967.

The topic explained

The Escalation in May 1967

The outbreak of fighting stemmed from a rapid series of decisions made in May 1967. Border skirmishes between Israel and Syria over water resources and farming rights along the demilitarized zones had grown frequent. In mid-May, false Soviet intelligence reports warned Syria that Israel was massing troops along its northern border.

In response, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser mobilized roughly 100,000 soldiers and 1,000 tanks into the Sinai Peninsula. On May 16, Egypt demanded the evacuation of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), which had acted as a buffer since the 1956 Sinai Campaign. UN Secretary-General U Thant complied, removing the peacekeepers and leaving Egyptian and Israeli forces facing each other directly.

The Blockade and the Waiting Period

On May 22, Nasser announced the closure of the Straits of Tiran to all Israeli-flagged ships and ships carrying strategic materials to the port of Eilat. Israel had declared after 1956 that closing this international waterway would constitute a direct act of war (casus belli). Egyptian military rhetoric called openly for Israel's destruction, and on May 30, Jordan signed a mutual defense agreement with Egypt, placing Jordanian armed forces under Egyptian command.

Inside Israel, these developments created a tense three-week span known as the waiting period (hamtana). The government mobilized civilian reserves, bringing the economy to a virtual standstill. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol pursued diplomatic solutions in Washington, London, and Paris, but Western powers took no decisive action. The public experienced severe dread, expecting mass casualties, until Eshkol established a national unity government with Moshe Dayan as Minister of Defense.

The Preemptive Strike and Differing Perspectives

Believing an attack was inevitable, Israeli leaders authorized Operation Focus (Mivtza Moked). On the morning of June 5, 1967, the Israeli Air Force launched surprise strikes destroying the majority of the Egyptian air fleet on the tarmac, followed by strikes on Syrian and Jordanian airfields. Ground fighting quickly expanded across three fronts: Egypt in the Sinai and Gaza Strip, Jordan in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Syria on the Golan Heights.

Narratives of the war differ sharply. Israeli historians emphasize national survival and self-defense against overwhelming Arab hostility. Arab and Palestinian historians point to broader regional tensions, viewing Israel's preemptive strike as an unprovoked aggression that led to the military occupation of Arab lands, an event known in Arabic as the Naksa (the setback).

Free printable worksheet

Causes and Consequences of the 1967 War

This worksheet is designed for 12th-grade history students. Answer each question in complete sentences using evidence from historical documents and class discussions.

Print the worksheet Regenerate new worksheet

Free, no sign-up. The answer key prints on the second page. Regenerating a new worksheet on the same topic needs a free account.

Free printable worksheetlessoons.com
Causes and Consequences of the 1967 WarName:

  1. Identify the international waterway closed by Egypt on May 22, 1967, and explain why Israel considered its closure a casus belli.

  2. What role did the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) play prior to May 1967, and why did they leave?

  3. Describe what Israeli society experienced during the three-week 'waiting period' (hamtana) in late May and early June 1967.

  4. Which three Arab armies engaged in military conflict with Israel between June 5 and June 10, 1967?

  5. Explain the core principle of UN Security Council Resolution 242 adopted in November 1967.

  6. What were the 'Three No's' formulated at the Arab League summit in Khartoum in September 1967?

  7. Read this brief excerpt: 'Israel fought for its very existence in 1967, striking only when the enemy encircled its borders.' Contrast this Israeli narrative with the Palestinian perspective of the 1967 war.

More topics and worksheets at lessoons.com© 2026 Lessons

Common questions

Was the Six Day War planned in advance by Israel?

Historical evidence indicates that while the Israeli military had contingency operational plans for war against neighboring states, the political leadership sought diplomatic avenues until late May. The decision to strike preemptively on June 5, 1967, was triggered by the closure of the Straits of Tiran, the massing of Egyptian armies, and the Jordan-Egypt defense pact.

What territories came under Israeli control as a result of the war?

Within six days, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. These territories quadrupled the land area under Israeli administration.

What does the term 'Naksa' mean?

Naksa is an Arabic word meaning 'setback' or 'relapse.' It is the term used by Palestinians and across the Arab world to describe the defeat in the 1967 war and the subsequent military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

How did the Israeli domestic debate change after the war?

The conquest of the territories sparked an intense political and ethical debate in Israel. Some viewed the land as a security asset to trade for peace, others saw it as a permanent biblical homeland, while others warned that holding a large non-citizen population would damage Israel's democratic and Jewish character.

Still have a question? Ask Lessi

Any question about this subject. Lessi answers right here, step by step.

Try asking

Asking needs a free account; your question is kept while you sign up. Answers are written by AI and can contain mistakes. Lessi doesn’t give medical or legal advice.

Learn it with a teacher

Learn this topic live with Lessi

Lessi, the AI teacher, explains it out loud on a board, with short quizzes, at your pace. The first 60 minutes are free.

Prefer a private teacher?

Private teachers for History

Teachers on Lessoons, online or face to face. Each profile opens on the Lessoons site.

See all 1,251 teachers