As this date — June 5, 1967 — gradually recedes into history, it remains a symbol of an induplicable moment in the lives of those Jews who lived through the utterly frightening build-up to the Six Day War and the utterly surprising and salvational impact of its result.
The build-up recalled the prospect of another Holocaust, with threats of genocide issuing from Arab leaders who were dramatically preparing for war to back up their threats.
The result — the utter vanquishment of the Arab armies, the reunification of the Holy City of Jerusalem, the capture of the Golan Heights, Sinai Peninsula and the West Bank of the Jordan River — changed the security equation for Israel decisively. No more missiles hurled with impunity from the Golan Heights on Israeli farms below. Radically reduced terrorism from across the Jordan River and from the Sinai. No more denial of Jewish rights to visit and live in the Old City of Jerusalem; and no more denial of the Jewish right to pray at the Western Wall.
To be sure, the Six Day War introduced a new set of security issues for the State of Israel. Memory is important to put these new issues in perspective. Save for the Iranian nuclear threat, they do not threaten Israel with what the late Abba Eban called politicide.
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