"Discuss important developments in the Arab- Israeli conflict in the period 1973-93"

"Discuss important developments in the Arab- Israeli conflict in the period 1973-93"

The period from 1973 to 1993 was a time of great change within the Middle East and saw a number of important developments in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Yom Kippur War began the slow move towards diplomacy and peace agreements, and highlighted the changing role of the super powers. In 1977 the change of Israeli government and influx of immigration highlighted the issue of the Occupied Territories which became a major discussion point during the Oslo Accords. The impact of terrorism on the Arab Israeli conflict became evident after the Lebanon War, and relentlessly undermined the peace process. This quest for peace was one of the most crucial developments within that 20 year time period and was really set into motion by the changing ideologies of the PLO that followed the Intifada which began in 1987. Finally, the Gulf War provoked the reconsideration of the position of the super powers, in particular America, within the Middle East.

The Yom Kippur War began with Egypt’s trade and economic ambitions and desire for American support. Unable to gain American support, and with Israel not interested in Egypt’s proposed peace agreement of 1971, when the Soviet Union told Egypt that Israel was going to attack, Egypt did not hesitate to join forces and declare its wish for the destruction of Israel.   Israel, aware of its precarious position in the centre of a hostile block of Arab nations, launched a preemptive attack on both Egyptian and Jordanian airbases. This was a successful military strategy and allowed Israel to acquire land for security. However, the reprisal on the Jewish Day of Yom Kippur with simultaneous attacks from Syria and Egypt resulted in enormous causality for Israel. Demonstrating its military might, Israel recovered rapidly and threatened to take over Cairo – prompting the Soviet Union to come to the defense of Egypt and USA to the defense of Israel. The war ends when Saudi Arabia with other Arab nations threatened to raise the price of oil by...