Middle East Conflicts and Cold War Military Alignments

The Middle East Conflict and Cold War Context

The proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948 led to the first war with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, who did not accept the existence of Israel at the expense of Palestine. This period saw the founding of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Key Arab-Israeli Wars

The Second Arab-Israeli War (1956) occurred during the Suez Crisis, following an Israeli attack on Egypt. The Third Arab-Israeli War (1967), known as the Six-Day War, involved Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israel responded rapidly with its troops under the command of Moshe Dayan. The Fourth Arab-Israeli War (1973) broke out during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, hence its name, the Yom Kippur War. Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel.

Camp David Accords and Regional Impact

Peace negotiations between Egypt and Israel culminated in the Camp David Accords (1978), whereby Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula, the Suez Canal was opened to Israeli ships, and Egypt shifted its alignment away from the Soviet Union. A consequence of these regional conflicts was the radicalization of the crisis in Lebanon between Christian and Muslim communities.

End of the Cold War

The final phase of the Cold War witnessed Soviet expansionism, followed by its withdrawal and the subsequent collapse of communist regimes in Europe. The Soviet Union lacked the financial resources to counter the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) project proposed by the U.S. A significant conflict during the last phase of the Cold War was the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989). The fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), the democratization of Eastern European countries, German reunification, and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact marked the end of the Cold War and the bipolar world order.

Cold War Military Alliances

NATO and the Warsaw Pact

Led by the U.S., Western bloc countries formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Original members included the U.S., Canada, the UK, France, the Netherlands, etc. Its aim was to safeguard security and stability across the Atlantic. West Germany's integration into NATO in 1955 prompted the Soviet Union to establish the Warsaw Pact, uniting its Eastern European allies.

Other U.S.-Led Alliances

The U.S. also built up a defense network through several other treaties:

• Organization of American States (OAS), founded in 1948.
• Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), dissolved in 1977.
• Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), covering the Middle East.
• ANZUS Treaty (Australia, New Zealand, United States), founded in 1951 to defend the Pacific region.