Yom Kippur WarRole of the Soviet Union and USA

Caroline and Louise

The Cold War and Détente

• Yom Kippur war occurred during Detente.

• The USA and USSR still provided arms to

courtiers in the Middle East.

• Egypt and Syria supplied by USSR

• Israel supplied by USA

• Neither country was keen to cause a war in

the area

Role of the USSR

•Provided arms for Syria, Egypt and Baathist

regimes

•Soviet official removed from Egypt

•Claimed this was because of dispute over arms

•Lulled Israel into a false sense of security.

•Threatened to intervene during the cease fire

Role of the USA

•Supplied Israel with military equipment:

planes, tanks and ammunition.

•Nasser’s successor Anwar Sadat:

depended on USA to have UN 242

implemented to regain Suez

•President Johnson had 5 goals, June 1967:•1. the removal of threats against any

nation in the region•2. justice for the refugees, referring to the

Palestinians•3. Freedom of navigation, referring to the

opening up of the Straits of Tiran•4.End to the arms race with the USSR•5. Respect for political independence and

territorial integrity of all states in the area.

President Nixon

•-Nixon wanted to take focus off of Vietnam War

•Jarring mission unsuccessful ,so Nixon wanted to deal with Middle East problem

• -Golda Meir refused to compromise with Nixon

• Roger’s Plan- Israelis disagreed with it, with AIPAC support they stated to ‘change the situation on the ground’.

AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee)

•AIPAC: donated money for Presidential campaigns

•-made resources available to Presidential Candidates, based on their stance on Israel

•Provided much needed aid to Israel

Aftermath

•US-Israel relations were stronger•Both US and USSR tried to build up air

force of their client states policy supported by very powerful lobby,