Israel's Border Wars 1949-1956 (book)
Encyclopedia
Israel's Border Wars 1949-1956 is a 1993 book written by Benny Morris
about the Arab
infiltration from Egypt
, Jordan
, Lebanon
and Syria
into Israel
after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
and before the Suez Crisis
war in 1956.
Morris contends that the Arab infiltration into Israel and the Israeli retaliatory response to it set patterns of behavior that were to characterize the Arab-Israeli conflict for decades to come.
Morris believes that he can build a relatively clear picture of the events of this period in spite of a formidable lack of many documents, especially those from the Arab states.
No Arab state has opened its state papers to researchers, Arab or non-Arab.
The protocol of the Israeli Cabinet meetings are closed as is the overwhelming bulk of the Israeli Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces
documents. Nonetheless, much of the Israeli civilian decision-making is available in declassified military records. The situation is much more difficult when it comes to the Arab side.
Benny Morris
Benny Morris is professor of History in the Middle East Studies department of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in the city of Be'er Sheva, Israel...
about the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
infiltration from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
into Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
and before the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
war in 1956.
Morris contends that the Arab infiltration into Israel and the Israeli retaliatory response to it set patterns of behavior that were to characterize the Arab-Israeli conflict for decades to come.
Morris believes that he can build a relatively clear picture of the events of this period in spite of a formidable lack of many documents, especially those from the Arab states.
No Arab state has opened its state papers to researchers, Arab or non-Arab.
The protocol of the Israeli Cabinet meetings are closed as is the overwhelming bulk of the Israeli Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
documents. Nonetheless, much of the Israeli civilian decision-making is available in declassified military records. The situation is much more difficult when it comes to the Arab side.