GS Paper 1
Syllabus: World History: Middle East
Source: IE
Context: The Yom Kippur War, also known as the October War or Ramadan War, fought in 1973 between Israel Egypt and Syria, is being compared to the current conflict involving Hamas and Israel.
What is currently happening in Israel?
Israel has declared war on Hamas after the Palestinian militant group carried out unprecedented attacks on Israeli territory, killing and abducting hundreds of Israeli citizens.
Who is Hamas?
Hamas is a Palestinian political and militant organization that currently governs the Gaza Strip, one of the two Palestinian territories. Though it is headquartered in Gaza City, it also has a presence in the West Bank, in which Fatah exercises control.
Difference between Hamas and Fatah:
| Aspect | Hamas | Fatah |
| Origins | Rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood | Emerged as a secular nationalist movement |
| Goals | Aims for an Islamic state in historic Palestine, including Israel | Pursues a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel |
| Methods | Employs armed resistance and suicide bombings | Engages in both armed and diplomatic efforts, but mostly has renounced violence |
| Control | Controls the Gaza Strip | Governs the West Bank |
| International Status | Considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including Israel and the U.S. | Has received more international recognition |
Timeline of the conflict:
| Year | Event |
| Root | The roots of the conflict lie in the First World War and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. |
| 1917 | Through the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Britain supported establishing a national home for Jewish people in Palestine. |
| 1947 | In 1947 the UN voted to split Palestine between Arabs and Jews. Jewish residents accepted the agreement and declared independence from Israel in 1948 while Arabs rejected the agreement |
| 1949: 1st war | Israel signs truces with Arab countries, Gaza Strip under Egypt’s control. |
| 1956: Suez Crisis: 2nd War | Israel invades the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip after the Suez Canal nationalization. |
| 1957 | Israel withdrew from Egyptian land, except the Gaza Strip and the Gulf of Aqaba area. |
| 1967 War: 3rd War | Israel gained control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula during the Six-Day War. |
| 1973: 4th war | Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria attempted to negotiate better terms, leading to a war. |
| 1978 Accord | Camp David Accords in 1978 marked the first instance of an Arab country (Egypt) recognising Israel as a state and Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. |
| 1987 | First Intifada begins in West Bank and Gaza against Israeli occupation. |
| 1993 Accord | Oslo Accords signed; Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formally recognised the state of Israel. In return, Israel allowed Palestinians some form of limited self-governance in Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas rejects the accord and launches suicide bombings in Israel in opposition. |
| 2006 | Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary election and later seized control of Gaza. |
| 2021 | Israeli police raid Al Aqsa Mosque, sparking an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas. |
What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, corresponding to a date in September or early October.
What was the Yom Kippur War?
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria.
On the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, otherwise called the Day of Atonement, Israel was caught off guard by invading forces from Egypt and Syria.
Motive: Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, hoping to win back territory lost to Israel during the third Arab-Israeli war, in 1967
Comparison with current conflict:
| Aspect | Yom Kippur War (1973) | Current Conflict 2023 |
| Parties Involved | Israel, Egypt, Syria | Israel, Hamas, Others |
| Surprise Attack | Yes | Yes |
| Reason for Conflict | Territorial disputes | Ongoing tensions |
| Civilian Abductions/Killings | Limited | Occurred |
| International Involvement | US, Soviet Union | Various countries |
| Outcome | Diplomatic resolution | Ongoing conflict |
| Peace Initiatives | Camp David Accords | Multiple attempts |
| Diplomatic Relations | Israel-Egypt peace treaty signed | Ongoing tensions |
Result of the Yom Kippur War: 1973 war thus ended in an Israeli victory but at great cost to all the parties.
Significance of the Yom Kippur war:
- The Yom Kippur War marked a significant shift as it showed that Israel, despite its prior aura of invincibility, could be vulnerable in battle.
- The heavy casualties suffered by Israel during the war made it clear that they could be battered in combat, impacting its reputation.
- The war initiated a peace process, leading to the Camp David Accords in 1978, where Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the first Arab country to recognize Israel as a state.
- However, Syria did not benefit from the war and ended up with no gains, while Israel expanded its occupation of the Golan Heights.
- In essence, the Yom Kippur War changed perceptions about Israel’s military invincibility and paved the way for diplomatic negotiations and peace agreements in the region.
Note: We will gradually cover other aspects of the current conflict in the following days
Insta links:
- Israel Palestine conflict
- India-Palestine relations: Ignoring the dispossessed people goes against India’s anti-colonial legacy
Mains Links:
“India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. (UPSC 2018)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2015)
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to
- a) Central Asia
- b) Middle East
- c) South-East Asia
- d) Central Africa
Ans: b
