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Yom Kippur
Posted on: Friday, September 24, 2004
Shalom, shalom!
Since it's Yom Kippur tomorrow, I won't post the third installment of Cliff's and my exchange but rather an excerpt from an article I found on the war of 1973--remember: when Syria and Egypt thought they'd sneak one in. For the full text of this piece and for other material, visit the Gates to Jewish Heritage.
"After the Six Day War, the Arab world's response was a vow to continue the fight against Israel. Egyptian President Nasser's forces shelled Israel's positions on the east bank of the Gulf of Suez in what was called a War of Attrition. Israel built a huge set of fortifications all along that defense line, called the Bar Lev Line. These were so sophisticated that Israel assumed Egypt would not be able to break through them.
"In September 1973, Israel received intelligence reports that there were tank and troop build-ups on both the Syrian and Egyptian fronts. Because of an effective Arab deception plan, Israel assumed that these were just military exercises because it was believed the Arab states were not yet prepared for another war.
"October 5 was Erev (the Eve of) Yom Kippur. Intelligence reports noted that heavy concentrations of Egyptian and Syrian troops indicated a serious threat. Israel's cabinet cancelled all army leaves and ordered the standing army to be ready. After much argument, it was decided not to call up the active reserve (practically the whole country) because of the holy day.
"At 4:00 am on Yom Kippur Day, Israel's cabinet received information indicating that the Arabs were going to attack at 6:00 that evening. At 10:00 am, while most of Israel was at Yom Kippur services, the order went out for total mobilization. At it turned out, it was very fortunate that it was Yom Kippur, because, since everyone was gathered in synagogues, the army was able quickly to notify the entire country of the mobilization order. All vehicles were available for transportation of the troops. Things could have been worse, but not much: Egypt and Syria attacked at 2:00 pm, long before Israel's reserve forces could get into position.
"Approximately 70,000 Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal and attacked the 500 Israelis stationed along the Bar Lev Line. It was easily taken. Israeli planes counterattacked and were overwhelmed by Soviet-made anti-aircraft missiles. Israel's reserve troops, arriving at 4:00 that afternoon, were repulsed but took up defensive positions and stopped the Egyptian advance. For the next week Egyptian forces kept trying to break through beyond their positions, which remained six miles east of the Suez Canal.
"The situation was even more serious on the Golan Heights. On October 6 Syria attacked with more than 1,400 tanks against an Israeli defense of 180 tanks. Unbelievably, the Syrians were able to overwhelm only one Israeli fortification, Mount Hermon. However, Syrian tanks advanced steadily toward Lake Kinneret. On October 8, Israeli tanks launched a major counteroffensive and, after two days of bitter fighting, pushed Syria back to the 1967 cease-fire lines.
"Israel's greatest problem during the war was trying to maintain arms supplies. The Soviet Union began re-supplying Egypt on the day hostilities began. Golda Meir sent urgent requests to the United States for aid. It took several nerve-wracking days, but President Nixon, under great pressure, finally agreed to an airlift to re-supply Israel.
"With those arms, Israel went on the offensive. In a daring drive led by General Ariel Sharon, Israeli troops crossed the Suez Canal into Egypt . Combined with a large force on the east side of the Canal, two armies pushed south, wiping out Egypt's anti-aircraft missile sites and giving Israel control of the skies. Egypt's Third Army found itself totally cut off, surrounded and threatened with annihilation. It was only when it was clear that Egypt was going to lose that the United Nations did anything; a cease-fire was ordered for October 22. At that time, Israel held the entire western side of the Suez Canal, coming within 42 miles of Cairo.
"In the north, Israel had pushed Syria back to within 40 miles of Damascus, having destroyed more than 1,100 tanks. The Yom Kippur War officially ended as a tremendous victory for Israel, demonstrating great resourcefulness and incredible individual bravery."
Have an easy Yom Kippur, everyone. Till next week...
Posted on: Friday, September 24, 2004
ב''ה
Shalom, shalom!
Since it's Yom Kippur tomorrow, I won't post the third installment of Cliff's and my exchange but rather an excerpt from an article I found on the war of 1973--remember: when Syria and Egypt thought they'd sneak one in. For the full text of this piece and for other material, visit the Gates to Jewish Heritage.
"After the Six Day War, the Arab world's response was a vow to continue the fight against Israel. Egyptian President Nasser's forces shelled Israel's positions on the east bank of the Gulf of Suez in what was called a War of Attrition. Israel built a huge set of fortifications all along that defense line, called the Bar Lev Line. These were so sophisticated that Israel assumed Egypt would not be able to break through them.
"In September 1973, Israel received intelligence reports that there were tank and troop build-ups on both the Syrian and Egyptian fronts. Because of an effective Arab deception plan, Israel assumed that these were just military exercises because it was believed the Arab states were not yet prepared for another war.
"October 5 was Erev (the Eve of) Yom Kippur. Intelligence reports noted that heavy concentrations of Egyptian and Syrian troops indicated a serious threat. Israel's cabinet cancelled all army leaves and ordered the standing army to be ready. After much argument, it was decided not to call up the active reserve (practically the whole country) because of the holy day.
"At 4:00 am on Yom Kippur Day, Israel's cabinet received information indicating that the Arabs were going to attack at 6:00 that evening. At 10:00 am, while most of Israel was at Yom Kippur services, the order went out for total mobilization. At it turned out, it was very fortunate that it was Yom Kippur, because, since everyone was gathered in synagogues, the army was able quickly to notify the entire country of the mobilization order. All vehicles were available for transportation of the troops. Things could have been worse, but not much: Egypt and Syria attacked at 2:00 pm, long before Israel's reserve forces could get into position.
"Approximately 70,000 Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal and attacked the 500 Israelis stationed along the Bar Lev Line. It was easily taken. Israeli planes counterattacked and were overwhelmed by Soviet-made anti-aircraft missiles. Israel's reserve troops, arriving at 4:00 that afternoon, were repulsed but took up defensive positions and stopped the Egyptian advance. For the next week Egyptian forces kept trying to break through beyond their positions, which remained six miles east of the Suez Canal.
"The situation was even more serious on the Golan Heights. On October 6 Syria attacked with more than 1,400 tanks against an Israeli defense of 180 tanks. Unbelievably, the Syrians were able to overwhelm only one Israeli fortification, Mount Hermon. However, Syrian tanks advanced steadily toward Lake Kinneret. On October 8, Israeli tanks launched a major counteroffensive and, after two days of bitter fighting, pushed Syria back to the 1967 cease-fire lines.
"Israel's greatest problem during the war was trying to maintain arms supplies. The Soviet Union began re-supplying Egypt on the day hostilities began. Golda Meir sent urgent requests to the United States for aid. It took several nerve-wracking days, but President Nixon, under great pressure, finally agreed to an airlift to re-supply Israel.
"With those arms, Israel went on the offensive. In a daring drive led by General Ariel Sharon, Israeli troops crossed the Suez Canal into Egypt . Combined with a large force on the east side of the Canal, two armies pushed south, wiping out Egypt's anti-aircraft missile sites and giving Israel control of the skies. Egypt's Third Army found itself totally cut off, surrounded and threatened with annihilation. It was only when it was clear that Egypt was going to lose that the United Nations did anything; a cease-fire was ordered for October 22. At that time, Israel held the entire western side of the Suez Canal, coming within 42 miles of Cairo.
"In the north, Israel had pushed Syria back to within 40 miles of Damascus, having destroyed more than 1,100 tanks. The Yom Kippur War officially ended as a tremendous victory for Israel, demonstrating great resourcefulness and incredible individual bravery."
Have an easy Yom Kippur, everyone. Till next week...
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