Page 148 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

148 airpower in 20 Century doCtrines and employment - national experienCes
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Israel continued to develop industry and agriculture while still absorbing immi-
gration and settling the land, at the same time continuing to organize its armed forces
and prepare them for the possibility of a further conflict, due to the continued threats
of war from the Arab States, headed by Egypt, and the ongoing infiltration by terror-
ists across the border resulting in more death and destruction.
One of the most important projects that Israel set itself was the development of
the “National Water Carrier” to bring water from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the
center and south thereby developing the country both agriculturally and industrially.
Syria, near whose border Israel planned the building of the water carrier, started to
sabotage the development work and to damage the heavy mechanical equipment.
All the Arab countries supported Syria and threatened Israel with the backing of the
USSR who armed and trained the armies of Egypt and Syria and supplied them with
advanced modern weapons.
There were multiple clashes between the IDF and the Syrian Army. In these
clashes the Syrian air force suffered losses in dog-fights with the IAF. On 7th April
1967 a large battle occurred between the Israeli air forces and the Syrian air forces
not far from the Sea of Galilee, in which the Syrian had lost 6 aircrafts MiG21, with-
out any damage to the IAF.
After the last battle on April 1967, the authorities in Damascus announced that
Israel was amassing its army on the Syrian border in order to attack and overthrow
the ruling Ba’athist Party. Following these untruthful statements, Egypt mobilized
its army, called up reserves and again concentrated forces on the Israeli Border in
Sinai; at the same time closing the international water way to Eilat; and demanded
that U.N. forces be withdrawn from Sinai on the Israeli border.
This was a complete breach of all the agreements reached after the 1956 cam-
paign. In addition, military agreements were signed between Egypt, Syria and Jordan
who placed its army under Egyptian command. Later, Iraq joined this agreement.
Egypt stationed commando units in Jordan in order to be able to attack Israel at the
narrow point leading to the center of the Country.
Israel tried to defuse the situation by repeatedly denying any hostile intent against
Syria, and tried to enlist the aid of the international community. Despite these efforts,
the wave of nationalism of the Arab crowds in Cairo, Damascus, Amman, Bagdad,
etc., and its demands for war, influenced the Arab leaders, especially Nasser, Presi-
dent of Egypt and the leader of the Arabs States. Due to this situation it became obvi-
ous to the Israelis that war was inevitable.
During this period the Arab countries purchased modern tanks, artillery and mod-
ern fighter aircrafts such as the MiG21, MiG19, MiG17 and Sukhoi7; and bomber
planes such TU16 and IL28, trained in its use with the help of Russian experts.
Israel also purchased high-quality equipment, mainly from France, which in-
cluded tanks and aircrafts, and more planes of the types already in its possession,
together with new ones such as the Super Mystere4B, Vautour bombers, and above
all, the fighter aircraft Mirage3 (1963).