680 Chapter 5
MID#3413
Dispute Number: 3413
Date(s): December 16, 1951 to January 22, 1952
Participants: 652 Syria/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Two Israeli fishermen were killed when Syrian positions opened fire
while they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. There was also a brief exchange of fire
between Israeli troops and Syrian irregulars.
Coding changes: End Date changed from June 29, 1952.
MID#3414
Dispute Number: 3414
Date(s): February 1, 1952 to February 2, 1952
Participants: 666 Israel/652 Syria
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Syrian forces seized an Israeli fishing boat and its three fishermen. A UN
officer and several locals went to the area the next day to investigate but were fired
upon by Syrian forces. One local from Hulata was killed.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from January 9, 1952. End Date changed from
April 25, 1952.
MID#3428
Dispute Number: 3428
Date(s): March 17, 1953 to October 22, 1953
Participants: 652 Syria/666 Israel
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In March 1953, an agreement to implement the Bunger Plan was signed
which would create damns to irrigate and provide power for Jordan and Syria. On
May 7, Syria called for a tight blockade of Israel, calling it the “best way to kill Israel
peacefully.” In June, Jordan and Syria agreed to share the Yamuk and the irrigation
and power, but Israel protested that this violated its riparian rights to the river which
it borders. In July, Israel began construction of the National Water Carrier at Lake
Kinneret and in the demilitarized zone. Syria sent troops to the border and fired on the
engineering and construction sites. On September 2, Israel began to dig a diversion
canal, and Syria complained to the United Nations that this altered the status quo of
the demilitarized zone and thus violated the armistice agreements. The United Nations
ordered Israel to stop, and Israel did so under American pressure. Syria massed troops
along its border with Israel on October 22, and on October 30, both Israel and Syria
charged that the other had violated armistice agreements. On November 10, Syria
charged that Israel had continued its work on the Jordan River hydroelectric project,
and the United Nations ordered investigations.