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Rev. Naim Ateek Misrepresents the History of the 1967 War in

“A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation”

In his most recent book, “A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation,” Rev. Naim Ateek grossly distorts the history of the 1967 war in a manner that seems deliberately calculated to falsely portray Israel as the aggressor in the war and to support Rev. Ateek’s accusations of Israeli “expansionist policies.”

Rev. Ateek deceptively begins his narrative of the 1967 war by stating that his mother called him when the war began and “It later became clear that the Israeli army had destroyed the Egyptian Air Force and was able to march unhindered through Sinai. Vast Arab territories were captured by Israel and thousands of people were killed.” (p.4)

• Rev. Ateek’s narrative creates the false impression that Israel was the aggressor in this war.

• Why does Rev. Ateek omit the factual history of this war ? Is it because he would rather his readers not know that Israel was the victim -- attacked by every surrounding Arab nation?

What are the real facts?

• The Soviet Union had falsely reported to Syria and Egypt that Israel was moving troops to the Syrian border for an attack. Israel tried to disprove this charge by three times inviting the Soviet ambassador in Israel to visit the front. He refused to go.

• On May 15, 1967 Egyptian troops began moving into the Sinai Peninsula and amassing near the Israeli border.

• On May 16 Nasser ordered the U.N. buffer force out of the Sinai Peninsula and announced that “our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel.” “The battle has come in which we shall destroy Israel” blared over Cairo Radio and throughout Egypt.

• On May 18, the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed: “As of today, there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience no more. We shall not complain any more to the U.N. about Israel. The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the extermination of Zionist existence.”

• On May 22 President Nasser blocked the Straits of Tiran cutting off Israel’s only oil supply. The collective armies of Egypt, Jordan and Syria with assistance from Iraqi, Saudi, Algerian Kuwaiti, Sudanese, Tunisian, Libyan and Moroccan troops lined up on the borders of Israel.

• For a period of three weeks Israelis waited while Arab troops and armor amassed on their every border. The surrounding Arab nations openly and jubilantly broadcasted that the final war for the extermination of Israel was imminent. Israel was outmanned and out weaponed by the collective Arab armies. It had to mobilize its entire reserve army. Israeli society and economy ground to a halt as it awaited a massive attack.

• Israel’s military leaders understood that their country’s survival hinged upon a successful attack on Egypt’s air force. Israel launched a pre-emptive airstrike on June 5, 1967 after receiving intelligence that Egypt was within hours of attacking them. Israel had about 200 war planes in its arsenal, compared to the Arab air forces’ combined 900 planes. It sent the bulk of those planes on what turned out to be for Israel a successful mission. If it had not been successful, Israel would not exist today, since the stated goal of the Arab armies was to annihilate the Jewish state.

• Via the U.N. commander of the peace-keeping forces in Jerusalem, Colonel Od Bul, Israel’s government sent a written message to King Hussein of Jordan: “if you do not invade Israel, Israel will not invade the West Bank.”

• King Hussein however, began an artillery bombardment of Jerusalem and other Israeli cities along the Green Line. After more than a day of bombardment, with scores of Israelis dead, hundreds wounded, and millions of dollars of damages, Israel sent a second message to the Hashemite king: “if you stop the bombardment now, we will consider it your politically necessary ‘salvo of honor’ and we will not retaliate.” This message was sent via the Romanian embassy, from its West Jerusalem (Israeli) ambassador to its East Jerusalem (Jordanian) ambassador. King Hussein ignored the warning and launched an infantry invasion of Jewish Jerusalem. It was then that Israel responded with its own invasion of the West Bank.

Rev. Ateek claims that the 1967 war “showed the expansionist policies of the Israeli government.” (p. 7) But as we assume Rev. Ateek knows -- Israel did not start the war, and acquired the Palestinian Territories in very legitimate self-defense.

• The 1967 war lasted six days. Israel acquired the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and Golan Heights defending itself against annihilation in this war.

• Days after the 1967 war ended, Israel tried to open back door negotiations (no Arab country had diplomatic relations with them) for land in return for peace treaties. On June 19, 1967, Israel’s National Unity Government voted unanimously to return the Sinai to Egypt and the Golan Heights to Syria in return for peace agreements. The Israeli government also resolved to open negotiations with King Hussein of Jordan regarding the West Bank.

• The League of Arab States (eight Arab heads of state) held a summit conference in Khartoum, Sudan from August 29 - September 1, 1967 and officially adopted a policy at that time of no peace, no recognition, and no negotiations with Israel.

Rev. Ateek’s attempt to recast the ‘67 war as Israeli aggression and “expansionist policies” is simply untenable. It exposes “A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation” as little more than a work of profound bias and propaganda.