Conclusion

Abstract

Between 11 June 1967 and 6 October 1973, the one thing — perhaps the only thing — that Israel, Egypt, the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, France and the UN had in common was a desire for some kind of settlement in the Middle East. And so for six long years, they applied themselves with albeit varying degrees of commitment and vigour to the task of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. The problem was that they each had their own idea — and in the case of Egypt and Israel, diametrically opposed ideas — as to what such a settlement entailed and how to go about obtaining it, so that one side would propose a deal, only for the other side to oppose and reject it. Thus the pattern was set, with all manner of initiatives, plans and propositions raised, discussed and ultimately rejected.