An impressive military victory but not a miracle.
"The armies were extremely ill-matched. Israelis, through their history, have tended to see themselves as the "weaker side," their army smaller and less well armed than their Arab enemies. The truth in 1967, as at other times, was different." Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, p. 311. Benny Morris is one of Israel's most prominent historians
"American intelligence accurately predicted that Israel would defeat any possible Arab coalition within a few days, perhaps a week...." p. 310
"The Arab armies were mostly professional forces, relatively poorly trained, and not properly mechanized. The Egyptian army suffered from a basic weakness owing to the politicization of its command echelons, which resulted in the appointment of incompetent and inexperienced senior commanders, and structural weaknesses that were to prove fatal in wartime." p. 312
"The Six-Day War was in all essentials, a clockwork war carried out by the IDF against three relatively passive, ineffective Arab Armies....Throughout, the initiative lay with the IDF; occasionally the Arabs 'responded' to an Israeli move; most often they served as rather bewildered, sluggish, punching bags." p. 313
Troops Note
Israel 250,000 Well-trained and thoroughly mechanized
Arab 291,000 Poorly trained and not properly mechanized
Tanks
Israel 1,100
Arab 1,494
Aircraft
Israel 232 Includes 40 trainer craft convertible for ground attack missions. 3 pilots per aircraft, finely tuned command system, highly competent ground crews and controllers.
Arab 360 Egypt - Many poorly maintained. Fewer pilots than aircraft. Lacked radar to pick up low flying aircraft. Internal services incompetent.
"The armies were extremely ill-matched. Israelis, through their history, have tended to see themselves as the "weaker side," their army smaller and less well armed than their Arab enemies. The truth in 1967, as at other times, was different." Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, p. 311. Benny Morris is one of Israel's most prominent historians
"American intelligence accurately predicted that Israel would defeat any possible Arab coalition within a few days, perhaps a week...." p. 310
"The Arab armies were mostly professional forces, relatively poorly trained, and not properly mechanized. The Egyptian army suffered from a basic weakness owing to the politicization of its command echelons, which resulted in the appointment of incompetent and inexperienced senior commanders, and structural weaknesses that were to prove fatal in wartime." p. 312
"The Six-Day War was in all essentials, a clockwork war carried out by the IDF against three relatively passive, ineffective Arab Armies....Throughout, the initiative lay with the IDF; occasionally the Arabs 'responded' to an Israeli move; most often they served as rather bewildered, sluggish, punching bags." p. 313
Troops Note
Israel 250,000 Well-trained and thoroughly mechanized
Arab 291,000 Poorly trained and not properly mechanized
Tanks
Israel 1,100
Arab 1,494
Aircraft
Israel 232 Includes 40 trainer craft convertible for ground attack missions. 3 pilots per aircraft, finely tuned command system, highly competent ground crews and controllers.
Arab 360 Egypt - Many poorly maintained. Fewer pilots than aircraft. Lacked radar to pick up low flying aircraft. Internal services incompetent.
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