בSecurity Cabinet meetings between June 5th and July 19th

ב.1 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, 6th of June 1967

This was the most euphoric discussion in the entire series. Reports from the fronts. Discussion of the possibility of taking the Old City of Jerusalem. It was decided to authorize the capture of the ridge of hills of the West Bank, parts of Jerusalem but not the Old City unless the Minister of Defense decided otherwise in light of the situation, to conquer Sharm el Sheikh, to negotiate with UNRWA about their continuing support of the populace of Gaza, and finally not to cross the international border with Syria.

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ב.2 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, 7th of June 1967

The Security Cabinet heard reports from the fronts, and tried to determine what crucial goals needed to be achieved before the beginning of a UNSC-imposed cease-fire, should the other sides accept it. The Cabinet decided to announce Israel’s acceptance of a cease-fire if the other sides accepted it. A majority but not a consensus decided to reach the international border with Syria, i.e. to take over the demilitarized zones; to examine plans to conquer the Golan should there be the need; to authorize the IDF to reach the River Jordan.

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ב.3 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, 8 June 1967

Following a report from the UN, according to which Egypt Syria and Iraq were refusing to accept the cease-fire, the Cabinet heard the urgent appeal of a number of kibbutz members from the Syrian border beseeching that the Syrians not escape from the war unpunished. The ministers were not convinced, and no decision was reached.

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ב.4 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, 9 June 1967 (morning session)

A tense discussion about the Syrian front, the authority of the Cabinet vs the minister of defense, the danger of appearing not to accept a cease fire vs the need to hit the Syrians.

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ב.5 | Protocol (not a transcript) of the meeting of part of the Security Cabinet (5 ministers), Friday evening 9 June 1967.

Race against time to complete the defeat of the Syrians before the beginning of the cease-fire. The Cabinet decided to report to the UN the Syrians were broadening the front; also, to continue the discussion at dawn the following morning.

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ב.6 | Protocol (not a transcript) of the Security Cabinet, 4:30 am of June 10th, 1967.

The ongoing race against time on the Syrian Front. Also a discussion of the request of the UN to return to their headquarters in Jerusalem (Armon HaNaziv).

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ב.7 | Protocol (not a transcript) of the Security Cabinet, Saturday night 10th June 1967.

Reports of growing international pressure to stop fighting. During the meeting it became clear the IDF columns conquering the Golan from north and south had met in the middle, thereby achieving the full goals of the operation. There was then an initial discussion of the fate of the many POWs.

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ב.8 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, June 14th 1967 evening.

Gideon Refael and Abba Eban gave a detailed report of the activities at the UN during the war. This was followed by a long discussion about the immediate and intermediate future. It was decided: a sub-committee would try to formulate a draft of Israel’s positions regarding the fate of the newly acquired territories (next transcript); Jerusalem to be re-united; the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to be rebuilt tho a decision was not yet made about the Arabs who had moved in since 1967; no agreement was reached about the freedom of individual ministers to publicly state positions on the territories; not to allow the return of the UN to its Jerusalem headquarters yet; to send Eban not Eshkol to head the delegation at the UN.

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ב.9 | Transcript of a sub-committee of the Security Cabinet, June 15 1967 (morning meeting).

This was the first in a series of meetings dedicated to formulating a policy regarding the future of the newly acquire territories. The outlines were: Sinai and the Golan would be returned for full peace; Jerusalem would not be re-divided; Gaza would probably remain in Israel but a solution needed to be found for the refugees living there; and there was no consensus about the West Bank. This model remained stable throughout the series of discussions, in ever-larger groups up until the full Cabinet.

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ב.10 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, June 15th 1967 (evening)

A short discussion of the fate of the POWs and the reunification of Jerusalem, followed by a long discussion of the draft written that morning by the sub-committee which tried to formulate Israel’s policies regarding the territories.

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ב.11 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, June 28th 1967

Most of the discussion was about Soviet attempts to rebuild the Egyptian army. There was also discussion of re-arming the IDF. There was also discussion of the conditions on the West Bank.

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ב.12 | Transcript of the Security Cabinet, July 17th 1967

A short discussion about drawing oil from the wells in the Suez Sea; followed by a longish discussion about the rights of Israel and Egypt to use motor-boats on the Suez Canal. The ministers held varying opinions, but it was decided that Israeli boats would refrain from using the waterway, and the IDF would not shoot at Egyptian boats doing so.

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ב.13 | Transcript of the Cabinet siting at the Security Cabinet, July 19th 1967.

A re-run of the discussion of July 17th in a broader forum, at the end of which the previous decisions were re-affirmed. This was followed by a discussion of the Jordanian refusal to allow returning refugees from the East Bank to fill out registration forms with Israel’s name on them. Eventually the ministers recognized they were being petty, and it was decided to ask the Red Cross to prepare forms without Israel’s name.

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