Wars have done little to improve the situation in the Middle East.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Britain met with France and Israel and agreed to invade Suez.
2. [1] Britain and France issued an ultimatum threatening to intervene if the Egyptians and Israelis did not agree to a ceasefire.
3. [1] British and French aircraft bombed Egyptian airfields.
4. [1] British and French troops invaded Suez.
5. [1] Under US pressure Britain agreed to a ceasefire in November.
6. [1] British and French forces withdrew.
7. [6] The consequences of the Yom Kippur War of 1973 were important because it dramatically demonstrated the power of Arab states over the US and the West through oil. During the war, Arab states imposed an oil embargo on the US and Western nations, showcasing their ability to cripple global economies by reducing oil supply. This event significantly boosted Arab self-confidence and forced Israel to confront the reality that military victories alone could not guarantee security, underscoring the necessity of a diplomatic solution. It also prompted the US to become more actively involved in seeking a settlement in the Middle East.
8. [1] It showed the Arab states could harm the West by stopping the supply of oil.
9. [1] The Arab states worked together much more effectively.
10. [1] The Arab armed forces and people regained a lot of self-confidence.
11. [1] Israel realised that it would not have security until a diplomatic solution was found.
12. [1] The oil threat made the US keener to find a settlement.
13. [10] The Six-Day War of 1967 did solve Israel's problems to some extent. It was a decisive military success that strengthened Israel's security by eliminating immediate threats and expanding its defensible borders. By conquering the Golan Heights, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Sinai, Israel gained strategic depth, making it much harder for Arab states to launch future attacks and significantly weakening their military capabilities. OR The Six-Day War did not solve Israel's problems. While a military victory, it did not lead to lasting peace; only a diplomatic settlement could ensure long-term security. The conquests of Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights created new problems, as Israel now controlled vast Palestinian Arab populations, leading to ongoing occupation issues and persistent Arab claims to the conquered territories. This meant Israel continued to face significant international and internal challenges, making diplomatic solutions more, not less, necessary.
14. [1] The Arab countries were seriously weakened militarily.
15. [1] Israel conquered much land around Israel.
16. [1] The Golan Heights made it easier for Israel to protect itself against Syria.
17. [1] Israel gained much more defensible borders.
18. [1] The Arab states still refused to recognise Israel.
19. [1] The land conquered by Israel caused future problems with the Arab states who wanted it back.
20. [1] Israel now faced an enormous problem over the million Palestinians now under its control.
21. [1] A diplomatic solution was needed to make Israel safe, not military victories.