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In 1967 Egypt demanded that the UN remove its troops from Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula. Egyptian troops then moved into the Sinai and Egypt began to close off the Gulf Of Aqaba, Israel's route to the Red Sea. -
Expecting a largescale Arab attack Israel decided to struck first. Israel launched air strikes against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan destroying most of their airplanes on the ground. -
Israeli ground troops then moved in and rapidly defeated Arab forces. Israel took control of the Golan Heights, Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West bank, and East Jerusalem. Israel gained control of land in the West Bank and Gaza with a large Palestinian population. -
The PLO launched a campaign of guerrilla attacks against Israel first from Jordan and later from Lebanon. In an effort to stop the PLO attacks Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 and again in 1982. -
Determined to win their territory back Egypt and Syria launched the Yom Kippur War a surprise attack against Israel in 1973. At first Arab troops made gains in the war. Israel's government was not fully prepared for the attack and needed military support from the United States. With U.S. support Israel pushed back the Egyptian and Syrian armies leading to weeks of fighting they then decided to declare a cease-fire agreed on by both sides.