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1973: Yom Kippur: the day that shocked Israel
On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Israel was invaded by two of its Arab neighbours - Syria from the north and Egypt from the south.

The so-called Yom Kippur War began on 6 October 1973 and ended two weeks later with a tenuous ceasefire.

Despite being outnumbered by at least two to one, the Israelis outmanouevred the Egyptians and eventually came within a few miles of Cairo before the UN pushed through a ceasefire on 22 October.

All three sides incurred heavy losses and Israel's image as invincible victor following the 1967 Six Day War suffered the heaviest blow.

Israeli public opinion turned against the Labour government of Golda Meir and especially the Defence Minister, Moshe Dayan.

The war had repercussions around the world as Saudi Arabia banned oil exports to the US for five months.

Were you in the Middle East during the Yom Kippur war? Do you remember what you felt watching the crisis unfold?

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Defence Minister Moshe Dayan (left) and Major General Ariel Sharon - 1973
Defence Minister Moshe Dayan (left) and Major General Ariel Sharon visit Israel's bridgehead at the Suez Canal


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