Dan Ansari, in a letter to the editor in Monday’s Northern Star, requested some additional clarification on the Middle East conflict. On May 14, 1967, the United Nations peacekeeping forces, under the demand of Egypt, left the Sinai Peninsula. The next day, Egypt rolled in three army divisions and 600 tanks.

On May 17, 1967, Cairo Radio’s Voice of the Arabs broadcasted this quote: “All Egypt is now prepared to plunge into total war which will put an end to Israel.”

On May 18, 1967, Egypt begins a blockade of Israel in the Red Sea, an act of war. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq form an alliance to attack Israel.

On June 5, 1967, the Israeli Air Force preemptively strikes Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq, thereby starting the Six-Day War.

On June 10, 1967, Israel accepted the terms of the United Nations cease-fire demands, which gave them control of Judea-Samaria (now known as the West Bank, governed by the Jordanians), the Gaza Strip (governed by the Egyptians), Eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. This explains why Israel is in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Why do they remain there? Take a look at a topographical map of Israel. Israel is surrounded by mountain ranges. The most natural places to form attacks on Israel are in the valleys of the Gaza Strip from the south and the West Bank from the East. The control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is for border security against the forces of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and any other nation that wishes to attack Israel. For further study, try to find who has historically controlled Israel/Palestine. You will note it was everybody but the Palestinians. Therefore, the Palestinians have no historical claim to the land. However, the Jews do.

Stephen Johnson

NIU Alumnus, 1997

Kenosha, WI