The Six Day War erupted between Israel and the Arab states in 1967. This conflict didn't just appear out of nowhere. It has its roots in the early 20th century with the rise of Zionism and the establishment of Jewish settlements in Palestine.

As Zionism grew, so did Arab nationalism, which saw Zionism as a form of Western imperialism threatening Arab control over Palestine. The 1940s were a time of escalating tensions, reaching a boiling point with the creation of Israel in 1948. This event sparked a war between Israel and the Arab states.

Despite Israel's victory, the war left deep wounds and bitterness on both sides. The following decades were marked by ongoing border clashes, guerrilla attacks from groups like al-Fatah, and retaliatory operations by Israel. Egypt, under the leadership of Nasser, sought to unite the Arab world and champion the Palestinian cause. However, this was not a straightforward task, as rivalries with other states like Syria and Saudi Arabia complicated matters.

By 1966, the situation was becoming increasingly tense. Syria was supporting Palestinian guerrillas, and there were provocative shelling incidents along the Israeli-Syrian border, followed by Israeli retaliation raids. Syria was trying to pull Egypt and other Arab states into a war with Israel, while Egypt was trying to hold Syria back. There were even secret contacts between Egypt and Israel in an attempt to ease the tensions.

However, the overall atmosphere was one of escalation and brinkmanship, made worse by Cold War rivalries. The Soviet Union was arming Israel's enemies, adding fuel to the fire. This created a volatile situation where even a small incident could ignite a major conflict. And that's exactly what happened, setting the stage for the devastating war that was about to unfold.