The Six-Day War and Israeli self-defense

"The war fought in June 1967 between Israel and Arab states was widely taken to have been forced upon Israel, to fight to prevent the annihilation of its people by Arab armies hovering on Israel's borders. Period documents declassified by key governments now give reason to question that view of this war. The four major powers all knew that the Arab states were not in attack mode. The major powers tried feverishly to dissuade Israel from attacking. In later years, the June 1967 war was seized upon as a precedent for allowing an attack on a state that is expected to attack. The precedent has been used to justify even an attack on a state whose own expected attack is well in the future. In a number of instances, a state using force has contrived facts to make its use of force appear to be defensive. The June 1967 war in fact can serve as no precedent in such circumstances, because evidence is lacking that it was waged on Israel's side in anticipation of an attack by Arab states. A flawed perception of the June 1967 war holds sway in governmental and academic circles, despite the declassified documents. Additionally, and also negatively, Israel-Palestine peace efforts are hampered by the persistence of the view that Israel acted in lawful self-defense in 1967. This book seeks to provide a corrective on the character of the June 1967 war"--Page [i].