1973 YOM KIPPUR WAR

Oct. 6-26, 1973 The Yom Kippur War.

Yom Kippur War1973 Egypt and Syria launched a joint attack on Israel on October 6, the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Iraq also joined the attack, and other Arab states contributed support. Caught off-guard, Israel took several days to mobilize, suffering heavy casualties, but it forced the opposition back. The Israeli army even pushed Egyptian forces back across the Suez Canal and occupied the canal's western bank. It also took large chunks of Syrian territory before the Arab forces agreed to another cease-fire arranged by the United Nations. In a series of 1974 agreements, Israel withdrew its forces back across the canal into Sinai and came to cease-fire terms with Syria. But the war established Israel as the dominant power in the region.

Oct. 22, 1973 U.N. Security Council Resolution 338 is adopted, calling for direct negotiations between Israel and the Arab states.

RESOLUTION 338 TEXT

U.N. Resolution 338 U.N. Security Council Resolution 338October 22, 1973
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The Security Council, Calls upon all parties to present fighting to cease all firing and terminate all military activity immediately, no later than 12 hours after the moment of the adoption of this decision, in the positions after the moment of the adoption of this decision, in the positions they now occupy; Calls upon all parties concerned to start immediately after the cease-fire the implementation of Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) in all of its parts; Decides that, immediately and concurrently with the cease-fire, negotiations start between the parties concerned under appropriate auspices aimed at establishing a just and durable peace in the Middle East.

RESOLUTION 242 TEXT

U.N. Resolution 242 U.N. Security Council Resolution 242
November 22, 1967
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The Security Council, Expressing its continuing concern with the grave situation in the Middle East, Emphasizing the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in security,
Emphasizing further that all Member States in their acceptance of the Charter of the United Nations have undertaken a commitment to act in accordance with Article 2 of the Charter,
Affirms that the fulfillment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles:
Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict; Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force;
Affirms further the necessity For guaranteeing freedom of navigation through international waterways in the area; For achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem; For guaranteeing the territorial inviolability and political independence of every State in the area, through measures including the establishment of demilitarized zones; Requests the Secretary General to designate a Special Representative to proceed to the Middle East to establish and maintain contacts with the States concerned in order to promote agreement and assist efforts to achieve a peaceful and accepted settlement in accordance with the provisions and principles in this resolution;Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the progress of the efforts of the Special Representative as soon as possible.

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