Termination of the Yom Kippur War between Israel and Syria: Positions, Decisions and Constraints at Israel's Ministerial Level

Abstract

the political stalemate in the Israeli-Arab conflict and inflict defeat on Israel, while capturing, at a minimum, the Golan Heights as well as part of the Sinai Peninsula. In contrast, Israel's primary objectives included the frustration of Egyptian and Syrian goals, the protection of its territories and the prevention of any military achievement by its rivals. Israel's ensuing goals included the staging of a counter-offensive to repel the Syrian and Egyptian forces from the Golan Heights and from the Sinai, and to terminate the war in a better military and political position than it had when the war started.' This article will focus on the termination of the Yom Kippur War on the Israeli-Syrian front. The majority of war research emphasizes the personal, political and international causes of war, as well as the process and classification of wars from a tactical and strategic perspective. In contrast, little research has been conducted on war termination. War termination may occur independently and unilaterally in the form of surrender, withdrawal or a unilateral declaration; achieved through co-operation between rivals via a cease-fire, a truce, an armistice, an arrangement or agreement; or enforced