Six Days

A “fast-paced . . . hour-by-hour narrative” of the 1967 war: “the most gripping military tale since the fall of France in the Second World War” (Daily Telegraph).

The ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine are a complex and bloody legacy, all stemming from six days of war in 1967. In this rigorous and original piece of modern history, Jeremy Bowen not only sheds new light on one of the key conflicts of the twentieth century, but also explains much about the Middle East and the problems it faces today.

After the state of Israel emerged from war in 1948, both sides knew more battles were coming. In June of 1967, years of slow-burning tension exploded. In six extraordinary days, Israel destroyed the armed forces of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. But far from bringing peace, their stunning victory turned into a curse.

From the initial battle order issued to the Israeli air force on June 5, 1967, to the final ceasefire on the evening of Saturday the 10th, the Six-Day War was a riveting human drama. Building on original research and his own experience as a Middle East Correspondent, Bowen presents a compelling new history of the conflict. Interweaving testimonies of combatants from all sides, Six Days vividly recreates the bullying and brincksmanship that led four nations to war.