Sent:
Sunday, June 30, 2002 2:34 PM
Subject: Who triggered The
June 1967 war and who were the victims?
June 30,2002
The Editor,
The Guardian weekly
Dear Editor:
Avi shlaim, in his review, in the June 27
issue, of the book " Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the
modern Middle East" , makes the claim that the war was triggered by
President Nasser, and that " Israel paradoxically was both the victim and the
victor." This is contrary to fact, as well stated by Israel's own leaders, at
the time.
Yitzhak Rabin, chief
of staff of the Israeli army at the time, stated :" I do
not think Nasser wanted war. The two divisions he sent
to the Sinai would not have been sufficient to launch an
offensive war. He knew it and we knew it."
{Le Monde,
Feb.28,1968}.
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol
stated :" The Egyptian layout in the Sinai and
the general military build up there testified to a
military defensive Egyptian set-up, south of Israel" [
Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot,
Oct. 18,1967].
Modechai Bentov, an
Israeli cabinet minister at the time, stated: " All this
story about the danger of extermination [of Israel in
June 1967] has been a complete invention and has been
blown up a poseriori to justify the annexation
of Arab territory" [Le Monde,
Feb 28,1967].
Menachem Begin, a
cabinet minister in June 1967, stated, while prime
minister, addressing Israel's National Defence College,
on Aug.8,1982, : " In June 1967, we again had a choice.
The Egyptian army concentrations in the Sinai did not
prove Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be
honest with our selves. We decided to attack him"
[The N.Y.Times,
Aug.21,1982].
Perhaps it is time that Israel and its supporters
should heed Mr. Begin's advice and practice some honesty on this
score.
Yours Sincerely
[Dr.] Ismail Zayid