1973-1978

• Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 6, 1973 to force Israel to negotiate ceding control of Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula.
  • The attack happened on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
• Israel turned to the U.S. for help. At first, President Richard Nixon was hesitant, but after finding out the Soviet Union was helping Egypt and Syria, he sent them supplies.
  • The U.N. brokered a ceasefire that ended the war.
• It wasn’t until 1978 that Egypt and Israel, with the help of President Jimmy Carter, arrived at peace with the Camp David Accords.
  • The Camp David Accords were a blueprint to a peace treaty.
• Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt opened the Suez Canal to Israeli ships.