Bernard Brumberg " Yom Kippur War of October 6 to 24, 1973  "

That day, Israel collected Celebrates Atonement: Yom Kippur. At two o'clock in the afternoon, everyone is gathered, the whole country is quiet.

This is the moment that chose the Egyptians and Syrians surprise Israel. They opened a massive offensive in the Sinai and the Golan.

Egyptian forces are creating a bridgehead on the Suez Canal and pose as 100,000 troops on its eastern side. Facing them are 8000 Israeli soldiers in a reserve unit.

The Egyptians quickly take control of Israeli positions along the canal and rushed inside the Sinai Peninsula.

The Syrians in turn quickly conquered the Golan Heights. Commando units are the base of Mount Hermon, which is an intelligence unit with sophisticated equipment that is returned to Syria.
The air force and army are trying somehow to slow the progression of Syria.
After the first day of war, the record is not brilliant on the Israeli side. This is the first time in its history that Israel has as much back.

Israel fails to contain the Egyptians in the Sinai. A-offensive against attempted fails. Whole weight of the aircraft is on the Syrian front. The Syrians reach near Lake Tiberias but are closed and the front stabilized.

Moshe Dayan explains the seriousness of the situation to the government. For him, the very existence of Israel is at stake and want to speak on television but Golda Meir to prevent it. He will submit his resignation but she refuses.

With two main armored units under the command of Raphael Eytan and Moshe Peled, Israeli forces captured the Golan Heights and are en route to Damascus.

Signing of the armistice with Egypt at kilometer 101 on the Cairo Suez Road, west of the Suez Canal. Both parties agree on the exchange of prisoners, a cease-fire and the return lines of 22 October.

Israeli forces have resumed the offensive in the Sinai. The armored unit of Ariel Sharon over the Egyptian Third Army on the run and crossed the Suez Canal. They then clean the field of missile batteries that prevent soil-air aviation act.

Prisoner exchanges with Egypt: 8300 Egyptian soldiers are released and 233 Israelis.
The Israeli government decided the establishment of a commission of inquiry to understand the failures that led to the Yom Kippur War.

The peace summit opens in Geneva with the participation of Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Following the summit, the separation of forces agreements will be signed with Egypt and with Syria.

The Army Corps Golani regains Mount Hermon. UN calls for a cease-fire. The Yom Kippur War ended. Israel died in 2600 and 7000 wounded. Following the war, Arab states set up a systematic boycott of Israel and many countries cut diplomatic ties with Israel.

Bernard Brumberg Israel Yom Kippur War for Gamma Presse Images.