Arab weaknesses played a great part in contributing to Israel’s success. During the 1948 War of Independence, the Arab states were weak and divided. They had untrained soldiers, little or no command and their defeat was due to poor leadership, disorganization and lack of coordination. Arab states had underestimated Israeli forces, trained by British experts, and the fact that Israelis had more experience in war, after the Second World War, was well used to their advantage. In the 1967 war, Israeli strengths and Arab weaknesses led to Arab defeat yet again. Arab armies weren't prepared well enough against Israeli forces and the surprise attack by Israel took them by shock. Overall, the Arab nations were untrained, unprepared and no match for the Israeli forces.
Another reason Israel was so successful was that although they were considered unlikely to win the 1948 War, the Israeli forces managed to emerge victorious despite their lack of equipment. The fact that their forces were trained by British experts, more experienced after the Second World War and that military service was now compulsory was a definite advantage. The Israelis planned attacks in 1956 to strengthen their position and with foreign support from Britain and France and with their swift and coordinated troops; they captured the Sinai Peninsula without trouble. Using surprise shock tactics during the Six Day War in 1957, the Israelis were able to destroy Egyptian air forces, and therefore push them back and occupy the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula and the West Bank. In the north of Israel, the Syrians were also defeated and the Israelis now also had control of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and most importantly, eastern Jerusalem. Without a doubt Israel was successful because they were organized, disciplined and had help from foreign powers such as Britain, France, and the United States.
Help from foreign super-powers, such as the United States, contributed largely to Israel’s victory, as well as the fact that Israelis were constantly prepared for war and more and more Jews from different parts of the world migrated to Israel to help. Britain and France helped Israel during the Suez Crisis, capturing the Suez Canal whilst Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula. Also, constant support and help from the United States during the 1956 War played a major part in Israel’s success. The USA supplied money, oil and other industrial/agricultural aid to Israel and this therefore helped Israel establish itself in the Middle East and fend off its attackers. Israel was pro-US while most Middle Eastern countries were pro-USSR, and as Israel was not rich in oil, to fuel its war machine and economy, it needed American oil. After the Suez Crisis, the United States continued helping Israel build up its forces by supplying it with American weapons and mercenaries, so that they could be drafted into the Israeli army to fight the Arabs.
The Jews were motivated to fight to save their new country; they were determined to win and could not afford to lose if they wanted to create the new state of Israel. They were especially motivated after the Holocaust, from 1933 to 1945, after being targeted in Europe. If they had lost any of the three wars, they would have most evidently lost their land to the Palestinian Arabs almost immediately, due to the fact that they were surrounded by Arab nations such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan. Defeat by Egypt during the Suez Crisis and 1948 War of Independence would have changed of the region, as they would not have gained control of geographically significant places such as , the , the , the , and the . On the whole, the fact that determined Israel’s existence was the motivation of its troops, which therefore lead Israel to its victory in the wars in 1948, 1956 and 1967.
Overall, a lot of significant components have played a part in Israel’s success throughout the years, including being dependant on the weaknesses of their enemies. Help from foreign superpowers also affected the outcome of the wars immensely, with training from the British, support from the French and supplies from the United States, the Israelis had a definite advantage over the Palestinian Arabs. In general, it was the motivation of the troops themselves that resulted in Israel’s success; the motivation to fight for their religion, to fight for their people and to fight for a home.
