What was the primary cause of the Six-Day War?

The primary cause of the Six-Day War, which occurred in June 1967, can be attributed to territorial disputes in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and its neighboring Arab states. Leading up to the war, tensions had escalated significantly due to Israel's growing presence and military strength in the region, alongside Arab nations' claims to the displaced territories from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Key territorial issues included control over areas such as the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. The tensions were exacerbated by the mobilization of Arab forces, particularly Egypt's closure of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, which Israel perceived as a direct threat to its economic survival and national security. This situation prompted Israel to launch a preemptive strike against its neighbors, marking the beginning of the conflict.

The other factors listed, while contributing to the broader geopolitical climate of the time, did not serve as the main drivers of the war itself. Cold War tensions influenced regional alliances and military support, but the immediate catalyst for the war was the ongoing territorial disputes. Similarly, while religious conflicts have historically played a role in the region, they were not the central issue during the events leading up to the Six