47-48:
Civil War:"Facing off in 1947-8 were a highly motivated, literate, organized, semi-industrial society and a backward, largely illiterate, disorganized, agricultural one." Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, p. 311. Benny Morris is one of Israel's most prominent historians.
War Against the Arab States: "The Arab forces in Palestine consisted (until the end of May) of not more than 28,000 troops -- some 5,500 Egyptians, 6,000-9,000 Arab Legionnaires, 6,000 from Syria, 4,500 from Iraq, a handful of Lebanese, and the remainder Palestinian irregulars and foreign volunteers. On paper, according to Haganah estimates, the combined Arab armies had some 75 combat aircraft, 40 tanks, 500 armored vehicles, 140 field guns, and 220 antiaircraft and antitank guns. In practice they had far less, much of the equipment (especially the aircraft) being unserviceable, and some of the remainder never reaching Palestine.
"After the invasion both sides substantially increased their forces, the Jews handily winning the manpower race. By mid-July the IDF was fielding nearly 65,000 troops; by early spring 1949, 115,000. The Arab armies probably had about 40,000 troops in Palestine and Sinai by mid-July, and 55,000 in October, the number perhaps rising slightly by the spring of 1949." p. 217
6 Day War:
"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.
Civil War:"Facing off in 1947-8 were a highly motivated, literate, organized, semi-industrial society and a backward, largely illiterate, disorganized, agricultural one." Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, p. 311. Benny Morris is one of Israel's most prominent historians.
War Against the Arab States: "The Arab forces in Palestine consisted (until the end of May) of not more than 28,000 troops -- some 5,500 Egyptians, 6,000-9,000 Arab Legionnaires, 6,000 from Syria, 4,500 from Iraq, a handful of Lebanese, and the remainder Palestinian irregulars and foreign volunteers. On paper, according to Haganah estimates, the combined Arab armies had some 75 combat aircraft, 40 tanks, 500 armored vehicles, 140 field guns, and 220 antiaircraft and antitank guns. In practice they had far less, much of the equipment (especially the aircraft) being unserviceable, and some of the remainder never reaching Palestine.
"After the invasion both sides substantially increased their forces, the Jews handily winning the manpower race. By mid-July the IDF was fielding nearly 65,000 troops; by early spring 1949, 115,000. The Arab armies probably had about 40,000 troops in Palestine and Sinai by mid-July, and 55,000 in October, the number perhaps rising slightly by the spring of 1949." p. 217
6 Day War:
"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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