Britain, the Six-day War and Its Aftermath (International Library of Twentieth Century History)

Britain's reputation in the Middle East was reduced to shreds by the Suez fiasco in 1956. Recovery was imminent--only to be shattered by the Six-Day War in 1967, a pivotal period in Israeli-Palestinian relations and in the history of the region and its contacts with the West. The "Big Lie"--alleged British-American collusion with Israel--was a potent factor.__The Six-Day War and its Aftermath__is essentially an insider's account that refutes the "Big Lie" and traces British policy of strict impartiality and the pursuit of economic and political objectives in a turbulent region--vitally important to the West today. Cover 1 Contents 4 Acknowledgements 6 Note on Sources 8 Abbreviations 10 Prologue - The Making of Foreign Policy in Britain 12 Chapter 1 - The Background to Britain's Situation in the Middle East in 1967 26 Chapter 2 - Nasser's Miscalculations 40 Chapter 3 - Britain's Attempt to Avert War 46 Chapter 4 - The 'Big Lie' 66 Chapter 5 - Postwar Policies 78 Chapter 6 - Diplomatic Relations with Arab Countries 90 Chapter 7 - The British Proposal of Security Council Resolution 242 (67) 106 Chapter 8 - Gunnar Jarring's Mission Impossible 118 Chapter 9 - Conclusion 148 Appendix A - British Chiefs of Staff Meeting of 29 May 1967 154 Appendix B - Michael Palliser's Washington Minute of 1 June 1967 160 Appendix C - UKMIS Tel. No. 1202 of £ June 1967 to the Foreign Office 162 Appendix D - White House Meeting with British Officials on 2 June 1967 164 Appendix E - Extract from George Brown's Speech of 21 June 1967 to the Fifth Emergency Session of the United Nations General Assembly 168 Appendix F - Security Council Resolution No. 242 of 22 November 1967 176 Notes 178 Bibliography 194 Index 202 Britain's reputation in the Middle East had been reduced to shreds by the fiasco of the Suez War in 1956 but by 1967 - as a result of quiet diplomacy and long-standing contact with the region - recovery seemed possible. But all seemed shattered by the Six-Day War and especially by the'Big Lie'- alleging that Britain and the USA colluded with Israel in the war and were thus vital in defeating the Arab side. Britain, the Six-Day War and its Aftermath is a cool, detailed and detached account by a top mandarin at the heart of British policy who refutes the allegations and shows Britain as pursuing an even-handed policy while promoting long-standing British diplomatic and - vitally for Britain's flagging economy and global position - economic interests.

Britain's reputation in the Middle East was reduced to shreds by the Suez fiasco in 1956. Recovery was imminent--only to be shattered by the Six-Day War in 1967, a pivotal period in Israeli-Palestinian relations and in the history of the region and its contacts with the West. The Big Lie--alleged British-American collusion with Israel--was a potent factor. The Six-Day War and its Aftermath is essentially an insider's account that refutes the Big Lie and traces British policy of strict impartiality and the pursuit of economic and political objectives in a turbulent region--vitally important to the West today.