Wars dominated the Middle East in the years 1956 to 1973.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] (a) e.g. 'Israeli paratroopers dropped into Egypt east of Suez.'
2. '(a) Israel invaded Sinai.'
3. '(a) Israeli aircraft shot down Egyptian jets.'
4. '(a) Israeli paratroopers landed near Al Tor, west of Sinai.'
5. '(a) Israelis captured Sharm el-Sheikh.'
6. '(a) Israel invaded Gaza.'
7. '(a) Israeli action in Sinai was a distraction to allow the British and the French to take the canal.'
8. '(a) Israel withdrew from Sinai in March 1957 but destroyed much of the infrastructure there.'
9. [4-5] (b) It was a disaster for Britain and France because it showed everybody that they were not great powers any longer. They acted because Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. The USA had warned them not to invade, but they did. They had to withdraw because of the pressure from the USA, the USSR and the UN.
10. [2-3] (b) e.g. 'The British Prime Minister had to resign.'
11. '(b) In France it helped cause the end of the Fourth Republic.'
12. '(b) They had been forced to withdraw from Egypt by the USA.'
13. '(b) It showed that they were not great imperial powers anymore.'
14. '(b) They had been beaten by Nasser.'
15. [4-6] (c) 'I think the Six-Day War was more important. This is because Israel won an enormous amount of territory which made it much stronger. It gained Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. This meant that it had tripled its size and had become the strongest power in the region. It made clear that Israel was there to stay.'
16. OR
17. '(c) I think the Yom Kippur War was more important. It was started by a surprise attack from Syria and Egypt. Although Israel recovered from this attack and recaptured lost ground, it made clear to the Israelis that there was no solution to its situation in the Middle East without a diplomatic settlement. Military solutions would never be permanent. Israel would never be secure without a diplomatic solution, particularly with Egypt. This made Israel keen to look for one.'
18. [2-3] (c) e.g. 'After the Six-Day War, Egypt was determined to get the territory it lost back by force if necessary.'
19. '(c) The Six-Day War made Israel much bigger and stronger.'
20. '(c) The Six-Day War demonstrated Israel's military strength and expertise.'
21. '(c) The land acquired by Israel in the Six-Day War brought it many problems in the future.'
22. '(c) The Yom Kippur War showed how Arab countries could use oil as a weapon.'
23. '(c) The Yom Kippur War demonstrated Israel's military superiority.'
24. '(c) The Yom Kippur War made Israel realise that it needed a diplomatic solution.'