Dear Foxy,

Thanks but don't sweat it. Hassie and I have an understanding. He trolls away like the ubiquitous drunk uncle lacking in the usual social graces and I get a chance to vent the spleen right back at him like some triggered uni student. We both find it therapeutic and wouldn't have it any other way.

Dear Hasbeen,

That's better. Passably coherent this time. See what a good nap can do for ya.

Aren't we privileged though that you decided to provide so much evidence to support your counter argument that we have all been swayed by your erudite, well researched offering which no man of any note could resist.

Mug.

Dear Steele,

Fair enough.

Dear Hassie,

You're not stating the facts.

You're distorting them.

Hi Foxy. when has gunboat Hassy been guilty of stating the facts. Hassy is a disciple of The Donald, and its all fake news. Unfortunately The Donald's Nobel Peace Prize is looking in tatters as he blasts away with military exercises involving his South Korean lackeys, cousie Kimmy is not amused

<a blockade of Israel's access to the Red Sea (international waters) via the Straits of Tiran, which Israel considered an act of war. Tension escalated, with both sides' armies mobilising. Less than a month later, Israel launched a surprise strike which began the Six-Day War.>

Foxy
You are right. Israel did strike first, but they believed The Arab states massing their armies together on Israels borders, were a threat, and also they needed access to the Tiran Straits for their merchant and civilian ships, which Egypt was blocking, to Isreal this blocking of the Strait and the Arab Armies massing on Israels borders was viewed as an act of war and no doubt as cutting off their supply routes.

To the Arabs,a lot of the history of the Straits of Tiran, goes back to the constant disputes over the right to international shipping in the Suez Canal, it goes back a long way, involving the 2nd world war at least, and earlier, also the United Nations (league of Nations) at one stage proclaiming the Suez Canal was to be kept open to international shipping.
Then you have the fabulous wealth of the oil, being traded by the British and European Nations and don't forget some of the Arab Nations who became very wealthy from trading the same oil.
It has such a long history, it was tiring to read all the disputes and manipulations over it.
But the Egyptians felt the straits of Tiran and the Suez Canal should belong to them.
I dont see why they should try to cut off one of Israels lifelines in modern times though, by blocking the straits, causing the 6 day war. It is easy to see how Israel would see that as a threat and an act of war.
But then there seems to be a lot of fear on the Arab side as well, regarding Israel and their super military capabilities. Much like people are wary of the Chinese military build up in waters in iur own area at the moment

Dear CHERFUL,

Thanks for that.

I always enjoy reading your posts.

Dear CHERFUL,

You wrote;

“I dont see why they should try to cut off one of Israels lifelines in modern times though, by blocking the straits, causing the 6 day war. It is easy to see how Israel would see that as a threat and an act of war.”

The Israelis, in colluding to attack Egypt along with Britain and France much to the great annoyance of the US resulting in the Suez crisis, had understandably created a high degree of tension between Israel and Egypt. However Nasser's closure of the Straits was largely symbolic.

“That the announcement of the blockade of the Strait of Tiran paved the way for war is disputed by Major General Indar Jit Rikhye, military adviser to the United Nations Secretary General, who called the accusation of a blockade "questionable," pointing out that an Israeli-flagged ship had not passed through the straits in two years, and that "The U.A.R. [Egyptian] navy had searched a couple of ships after the establishment of the blockade and thereafter relaxed its implementation."” Wikipedia

So the blockade was only directed at Israeli flagged ships, all others were free to pass through to Israel.

In exercising Egypt's sovereignty over the strait the Egyptians knew there could be retaliation from Israel and prepared accordingly. The language from Nassar was always about 'if you attack we will respond' rather than 'we are going to attack you'.

“We are ready for war…These waters are ours. War might be an opportunity for the Jews, for Israel, to test their strength against ours. The Israeli flag shall not go through the Gulf of Aqaba. Our sovereignty over the entrance to the Gulf cannot be disputed. If Israel wishes to threaten war, we tell her: “You are welcome.” (Boston Globe, May 23, 1967) “

Israel may well claim casus belli but it doesn't shift the indisputable fact that they were the aggressors in starting this war.