The Six-Day War and Israeli Self-Defense: Questioning the Legal Basis for Preventive War

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John Quigley's controversial new book seeks to provide a corrective on the character of the June 1967 war, widely perceived as being forced on Israel to prevent the annihilation of its people by Arab armies hovering on Israel's borders. Using period documents declassified by key governments, Quigley shows the lack of evidence that the war was waged on Israel's side in anticipation of an attack by Arab states, and gives reason to question the long-held view of the war which has been held up as a precedent allowing an attack on a state that is expected to attack. Cover THE SIX-DAY WAR AND ISRAELI SELF-DEFENSE Other Books by John Quigley Title Copyright Contents Preface Note on Official Documents I. UNITED KINGDOM II. USSR III. FRANCE IV. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. UNITED NATIONS Abbreviations PART ONE: A War is Generated 1 Who Was to Blame and Why It Matters 2 The Syrian Connection RAID INTO JORDAN (WITH A MESSAGE FOR SYRIA) ESCALATION ALONG THE ISRAEL-SYRIA ARMISTICE LINE A CURIOUS REPORT VERBAL CONFRONTATION EGYPT'S REACTION 3 Egypt Flexes Its Muscle WITHDRAWAL OF UN TROOPS JORDAN'S CONCERN SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS: GULF OF AQABA THE PALESTINE DIMENSION THE MAJOR POWERS ENTER THE FRAY US EXPECTATION OF WAR 4 Historical Opportunity for Israel ISRAEL PRESSES ITS CLAIM OF AN IMMINENT EGYPTIAN ATTACK MOVEMENT ON RESOLVING AQABA? ISRAEL NEARS A DECISION ELEVENTH-HOUR EFFORTS INVASION ON HOLD PART TWO: Cold War Togetherness 5 Britain Has a Plan AMBIGUOUS ENFORCEMENT OF SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS DOUBTS ABOUT A NAVAL ESCORT THE UNITED STATES AT AN IMPASSE JORDAN-EGYPT DEFENSE PACT NO SIGN OF AN ATTACK BY EGYPT 6 Southern Passage: Aqaba as Cause for War A FISHING VILLAGE BECOMES A PORT IS THE GULF OF AQABA OPEN SEA? RIGHT OF PASSAGE AFTER THE SUEZ WAR RIGHT OF PASSAGE UNDER THE TERRITORIAL SEA CONVENTION RIGHT OF PASSAGE AS OF 1967 EGYPT'S LEGAL RATIONALE CAN PASSAGE BE GAINED BY FORCE? WERE EGYPT'S RESTRICTIONS A “BLOCKADE”? CONTINUING HOSTILITIES FROM 1948 FINDING A WAY SHORT OF WAR WOULD WAR BE TOO MUCH? 7 “The Americans Will Not Sit Shiva” END-GAME FRANCE RAISES THE PRESSURE ELEVENTH-HOUR SOVIET EFFORT NASSER TO JOHNSON ISRAEL MOVES TOWARD ACTION 8 How to Attack: “We Have to Be the Victims” A DOLPHIN TRICK AQABA: ONLY A TECHNICAL CAUSE FOR WAR NO HOLDING THE TIGER PART THREE: The First Victim of War 9 Turkey Shoot CIA: ISRAEL FIRED FIRST ACCOUNT OF THE OUTBREAK SECURITY COUNCIL SLOW OFF THE MARK WASHINGTON SORTS IT OUT WILL WASHINGTON PLAY ALONG? 10 Cover-up in the Security Council WHO'S TO BLAME? AN EASTERN FRONT A CEASE-FIRE WITH HUSSEIN 11 Security Council “in the Dark” DIVERSION: ATTACK ON AN ALLY SYRIA AND THE GOLAN HEIGHTS DRAFT RESOLUTION CHARGING AGGRESSION US-BRITISH COMPLICITY WITH ISRAEL? 12 Cover-up in the General Assembly A NEW SOVIET DRAFT RESOLUTION STATES VOTING AGAINST SOVIET PARAGRAPH ONE STATES VOTING IN FAVOR OF PARAGRAPH ONE STATES ABSTAINING ON PARAGRAPH ONE ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO CHARGE OF AGGRESSION ESHKOL'S ABOUT-FACE SECURITY COUNCIL: STILL NOTHING ON RESPONSIBILITY PART FOUR: Rallying Round Self-Defense 13 How to Read the Silence on Aggression CAVEATS ON THE UN DEBATES PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS 14 The Experts Fall in Line CONFUSION OVER ISRAEL'S CLAIM NO TO ISRAEL'S ANTICIPATORY SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM YES TO ISRAEL'S ANTICIPATORY SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM INTELLECTUAL CLIMATE FOR EXPERT OPINION 15 No Threat? No Matter OFFICIAL VERSION CHALLENGED ANOTHER CABINET MEMBER SPECTER OF THE HOLOCAUST IMPACT OF CHALLENGES TO THE OFFICIAL STORY PART FIVE: War Without Limit? 16 War by Mistake WHAT DID ISRAEL BELIEVE? DEFENSE AGAINST AN IMAGINED ATTACK LIKE THE LAW OF ASSAULT? UNREASONABLE SELF-DEFENSE 17 Defending in Advance ANTICIPATORY SELF-DEFENSE BEFORE 1967 REFERENCE TO PRE-CHARTER SELF-DEFENSE: THE CAROLINE ANTICIPATORY SELF-DEFENSE AFTER 1967 ANTICIPATORY SELF-DEFENSE UNDER CONTEMPORARY CONDITIONS OSIRAK EPISODE 18 A New Doctrine of Preventive War SELF-DEFENSE OR REPRISAL? RATIONALE ON AFGHANISTAN ANTICIPATORY SELF-DEFENSE EXTENDED NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY 2002 IRAQ AND PREVENTIVE WAR THE JUNE 1967 WAR AS PRECEDENT FOR PREVENTIVE WAR A DEFINITION OF SELF-DEFENSE FOR WAR AS A CRIME PART SIX: Peace Sidelined 19 Permanent Takeover? LONG-TERM HOLD ON PALESTINIAN TERRITORY JERUSALEM SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WEST BANK POPULATING THE WEST BANK MIGRATION TO ISRAEL 20 Blocking the Path to Peace OSLO PROCESS AN AFTER-THE-FACT REMEDY? Notes Bibliography Index