Superpower involvement in the Middle East has had mixed results.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] The USSR supported UN action over the Suez crisis.
2. [1] The USSR supported Egypt.
3. [1] In May 1967, the USSR gave false information to Egypt about Israeli troop movements. This was partly responsible for the outbreak of war.
4. [1] The USSR supplied anti-tank weapons and surface to air missiles to the Arab states.
5. [1] Lebanon is on the Israeli border.
6. [1] The PLO established bases there in the 1970s.
7. [1] A civil war broke out between the PLO and the Lebanese army.
8. [1] Attacks on Israel were carried out from Lebanon.
9. [1] In 1978, Israel invaded Lebanon.
10. [1] Israel attacked again in 1982.
11. [Level 3/4 explanation example] There were tensions between Israel and Lebanon because Lebanon was an important base for the PLO. The PLO established bases there in the 1970s and launched attacks on Israel. Border attacks and the attempted assassination of the Israeli ambassador in London prompted Israeli invasions of Lebanon in 1978 and 1982.
12. [1] The Israeli air force was superior.
13. [1] Israeli forces had skilled commanders.
14. [1] The USA gave Israel financial support.
15. [1] It received American supplies of weapons.
16. [1] There was a lack of Arab co-ordination.
17. [1] The Arabs made mistakes.
18. [Level 3 explanation example - Israel survived due to its own strength] Israel survived because of its own strength and effective military planning. In the Six-Day War of 1967, the Israelis launched Operation Focus by a large-scale air strike. The Israelis caught the Egyptian aircraft on the ground. They also destroyed the air forces of Syria, Iraq and Jordan. Over 400 aircraft were destroyed by the Israelis in two days.
19. [Level 3 explanation example - Israel survived due to US support] The support of the US was important to the survival of Israel. During the 1960s, US aid increased and President Johnson was strongly pro-Israel. The most important support given by the US was in the Yom Kippur war of 1973. Egypt hit first and caught the Israelis by surprise. The USA gave Israel support by airlifting emergency supplies of arms to enable a successful counterattack to take place.