In 1967, three Arab armies -- Egypt, Jordan
and Syria -- massed troops on Israel's borders
and called for its elimination.
But Israel launched a lightning strike on
June 5th, 1967, rapidly defeating all three
countries and tripling the land under its
control.
Here's how the region was transformed.
First, Israel went from being seen as this
tiny, plucky nation fighting for survival
to the regional powerhouse.
Israel is still at odds with many neighbors.
It's never settled basic questions such as
what are its borders.
But it has prospered and built a powerful
economy and military.
Second, Arab states suffered a humiliating
defeat.
Their many losses included the eastern part
of Jerusalem, home to Muslim holy sites.
This marked a point when many Arabs began
to question whether their leaders could deliver
on grandiose promises.
Palestinian leaders haven't been able to end
Israel's occupation.
Egyptian and Syrian leaders have fared poorly.
Over the years, many Arabs have turned
away from secular leaders and we’ve seen
a rise in radical Islamist groups.
Third, the United States has become much more
involved in the Middle East in an attempt
to make it more stable.
The U.S. provides more military assistance
to Israel than [to] any other country.
The U.S. has served as the main broker in
peace talks.
Israel has made peace with Egypt and Jordan.
But there been many failures - like the ongoing
Israeli-Palestinian feud.
That brief war in 1967 has ripple effects
that influence the conflicts we see today
in the Middle East.
