How deceit won the war for Israel

Occupied Jerusalem: The Israeli government has decided to celebrate the anniversary of the 1967 war by publishing secret documents about it.

The six-day war, which changed history for Israelis, was the worst defeat for Arabs.

The released documents, which are made available in the Israeli archives, show how Arabs had been deceived and manipulated by Israel, which led them to the war and subsequent defeat.

Israeli Army historian Ariah Yetzke, who documented all Israel's wars, said that the war began after Israel deceived Egypt by placing dozens of paper tanks and building empty camps on the frontline.

According the Yetzke, the Israeli intelligence was surprised at the Egyptian Army's mobilisation between May 16 and 23, especially as the Israelis were expecting the Egyptian Army to deploy its forces on the southern front.

Unprepared

What happened was that the Egyptians deployed their forces near Gaza, face to face with the Israeli forces, which were not prepared to face the Egyptian Army.

A plan had to be made to divert the Egyptian army to the southern front and allow the Israeli forces to enter Sinai. A bogus brigade was set up, led by General Shalom Anbar, which placed the 'illusionary' tanks and camps at the southern front.

Five days before the war, the Egyptian Army was tricked into moving the artillery and tanks brigade to the southern front to face the 380 new Israeli tanks, according to the documents. This caused a state of confusion in Sinai, causing the Egyptian leadership to lose control over the mobilised forces there. The Israeli intelligence expected the confusion to reach its worst on June 5, and suggested the date to start the war, which was accepted.

Israeli historian and journalist Tom Segev believes that the Zero Hour was decided based on political information relating to the US support for Israel, as Israeli prime minister Levi Ashkol was waiting for the head of Mossad to return from the US on June 3, to confirm whether the US was supporting Israel in the war. Another document revealed that the army leaders were prepared and eager for the war, while the political forces were opposing it.

Journalist Zaif Sheef said that Ariel Sharon, a brigade leader at the time, said the army leaders considered locking up ministers in a room in the Defence Ministry if they objected to the war.

The army leaders did not conceal their real target, which was to occupy East Jerusalem at any cost, and this is why the Jerusalem battle was the toughest, as the Jordanian Army's resilience stunned the Israelis. Moti Gore, who led the army, said he ignored the leadership's orders and insisted on attacking Jordanian locations.

According to General Yosse Ingetzi, who was leader of the Jerusalem patrol, the forces just wanted to occupy the old city based on emotional, religious and political judgment, and the glorified target of occupying the city.

Israeli intelligence was surprised at the Egyptian Army's mobilisation... Israelis were expecting the Egyptian Army to deploy its forces on the southern front.

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