Middle East 661
MID#3405
Started in October 1955. See the narrative in the 652 Syria/666 Israel dyad dispute
list.
MID#3230
Dispute Number: 3230
Date(s): December 30, 1956 to January 26, 1959
Participants: 651 Egypt, 663 Jordan/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: In December 1956, Egyptian commandos reportedly operating from Jor-
dan staged raids in Israeli territory, killing at least one Israeli. In late December, Jor-
dan accused Israeli soldiers of firing and launching hand grenades on a civilian lorry
and of stealing several hundred sheep. In January, Jordan accused Israel of moving
a large number of troops near their shared border and requested a UN investigation.
After the UN General Assembly called for Israeli troops to pull out of the Gaza Strip
and Sinai Peninsula, Jordan’s King Hussein stated that his country would fight to see
that Israel withdrew.
In February 1957, Jordan again issued a warning that it would use military force
against Israel if the United Nations failed to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops
from the Gaza Strip. In late February 1957, Israel reported a border attack by Jor-
danian forces in which three Israelis were wounded, but the UN Jordanian-Israeli
Armistice Commission blamed Israel for the raid, stating the Israelis had violated
the 1949 armistice. A number of border clashes and attacks were reported between the
late winter 1957 and the spring of 1959. These clashes mainly took place along the
Jordanian-Israeli border, but one incident in October 1957 involved an Israeli fighter
jet firing on a Jordanian commercial airliner. Another clash that took place on Israel’s
Mount Scopus (which is surrounded by Jordanian territory and monitored by UN
envoys) resulted in the death of the head of the UN truce team. The last Israeli-Jorda-
nian clash for a six-month period occurred in January 1959. Another shooting incident
was reported on the Israeli-Jordanian border in August, but reports were unclear as to
whether or not it was a militarized incident. Israel and Jordan both had other regional
issues that may have led to a decrease in border tensions during this time. No outcome
or settlement was reported for this dispute.
Coding changes: Added to the dispute: 651 Egypt. Start Date changed from January
1, 1957. End Date changed from January 22, 1959.
MID#3375
Dispute Number: 3375
Date(s): March 19, 1957 to April 28, 1961
Participants: 666 Israel/651 Egypt
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 101–250 deaths