What was the significance of the Six-Day War?

At a time when Arab forces posed a significant threat to Israel’s security, Israel’s preemption in the Six-Day War dealt a decisive blow to their ability to carry out threats, especially by incapacitating Egypt’s air force. Israel also captured territory held by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, none of which was recaptured by military means. Calls by the United Nations (see United Nations Resolution 242) to return these territories in exchange for lasting peace laid the foundation for the “land for peace” formula underlying the Camp David Accords peace treaty between Israel and Egypt as well as the proposed two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.