Why Did Israel Continue The 19th Day Of Independence Of Israel

On 15 May 1967, Israel celebrated its 19th Day of Independence. The economy had not yet recovered from a recession that had been caused the year before. Tensions on the border with Syria had risen significantly, sabotage was being committed in Israel's territory by terrorists from the PLO in Lebanon, and settlements were being shelled by the Syrians on the Golan Heights. The aggression that Israel faced was due to the fact that her Arab Neighbours refused a Jewish nation in the Middle East. This is reaffirmed with the 3 no’s of Khartoum; no peace with Israel, no negotiations with Israel, no recognition of Israel, and 'maintenance of the rights of the Palestinian people in their nation.'

During the Independence Day parade in Jerusalem, Israel's
Egypt was still involved in the Yemen war, with little success, and consequently suffered from loss of prestige. The Israelis did not yet know that the Soviet Union was pushing Egypt to take an active stand alongside Syria against what was described as an impending Israeli aggression against Syria as reported. An Egyptian parliamentary delegation, headed by Anwar Sadat, which visited Moscow on May 11, where they were warned that Israel had massed around thirteen brigades along the Syrian border in preparation for an assault within a few days, with the intention of dissolving the revolutionary Syrian Government. Similar information may have been given to Egypt by the Soviets somewhat earlier. This story was of coarse a lie, as the Soviets knew very well. On 16 May Radio Cairo declared: "The existence of Israel has continued too long. We welcome the Israeli aggression we welcome the battle we have long awaited. The peak hour has come. The battle has come in which we shall destroy Israel." On that day, Egypt asked for the withdrawal of the UN Emergency Forces from Sinai and the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel decided on partial mobilization,