Nahal Yam (Hebrew: נח"ל ים) was a Nahal settlement in the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula.[1] Located 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the east of the Suez Canal,[2] it was established on 3 October 1967, four months after the Six-Day War. On 9 March 1973, seven months before the Yom Kippur War, Nahal Yam was slated to be abandoned in favour of a nearby fishing village. Upon the signing of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty on 26 March 1979, Israel began withdrawing from the Sinai Peninsula and finished returning it to Egypt on 25 April 1982.

Nahal Yam
נח"ל ים
1967–1973
Farmers in Nahal Yam, 1969
Farmers in Nahal Yam, 1969
Nahal Yam is located in Sinai
Nahal Yam
Nahal Yam
Location in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
Nahal Yam is located in Egypt
Nahal Yam
Nahal Yam
Location in Egypt
Coordinates: 31°01′52″N 33°09′09″E / 31.03111°N 33.15250°E / 31.03111; 33.15250
Country Egypt (de jure)
 Israel (de facto)
Subdivision (Egypt)North Sinai Governorate
Founded by Israel3 October 1967; 56 years ago (1967-10-03)
Abandoned by Israel9 March 1973; 51 years ago (1973-03-09)
Return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt25 April 1982; 41 years ago (1982-04-25)
Named forNahal (נח"ל)
Government
 • TypeStratocracy
 • BodyIsraeli Military Governorate

History edit

Nahal Yam was first established on 3 October 1967, almost four months after Israel emerged victorious in the Six-Day War.[3][4]

On 22 November 1967, the United Nations Ambassador of the United Arab Republic (amalgamated Egypt and Syria) described the Nahal settlement as a "colony" in a letter to the United Nations Security Council.[5]

In 1968, the Jewish Agency ordered the construction of a water desalination plant to provide for the settlement's residents.[6]

On 23 July 1969, seven Israeli soldiers of Nahal were injured when several bazooka shells detonated in the settlement.[7]

On 4 October 1969, Egyptian military aircraft dropped several bombs near the settlement, but were unable to inflict any damage or injuries.[8]

On 24 April 1970, Egyptian military aircraft again dropped several bombs near the settlement, but were unable to inflict any damage or injuries.[9]

On 18 May 1970, the Orith, an Israeli fishing boat, was sunk by an Egyptian missile off of Nahal Yam's coast. Two crew members clung to the wreckage and washed ashore at the settlement.[10]

On 16 February 1971, Israel captured and charged two Egyptian agents from Arish after they fired bazookas at the settlement.[11]

On 9 March 1973, the Jewish Agency announced that Nahal Yam would be abandoned in favour of a nearby fishing village.[12]

On 26 March 1979, the Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed and Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt by 25 April 1982.

References edit

  1. ^ Gilbert, Martin (1993). Atlas of the Arab-Israeli conflict (6th ed.). New York, United States: Oxford University Press. p. 115. OCLC 1147711290. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Israelis Leaving Village in Sinai". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tel Aviv, Israel. 9 March 1973. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. ^ "A Survey of Israeli Settlement". MERIP Reports. 60 (60): 13–20. September 1977. doi:10.2307/3011548. JSTOR 3011548. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021 – via JSTOR.
  4. ^ "The Jewish Agency for Israel Timeline". Jewish Agency for Israel. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  5. ^ "S/PV.1382 (OR) of 22 November 1967". United Nations. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Desalination Plant Ordered for Nahal Outpost Fishing in Northern Sinai". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1 July 1968. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Soldiers at Nahal Yam–a Fishing Outpost–injured by Bazooka Shells". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 23 July 1969. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Israeli Jets Attack Egyptian Position Along Suez Canal, Hit Jordan Guerrilla Bases". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 24 October 1969. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Two Israeli Civilians Killed in Syrian Ambush; Israeli Planes Hit Egyptian Targets". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 24 April 1970. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Israelis in Heaviest Assault on Egyptian Targets; 2 Israeli Soldiers Killed, 13 Wounded". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 18 May 1970. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Six Terrorists Killed by Israeli Patrols; Two More Terrorist Bands Uncovered". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 16 February 1971. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Nahal Settlement Abandoned". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 9 March 1973. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.