1. The Israelis would be least likely to expect it, especially since it was during Ramadan.

2. Most of the Israeli military were away from their posts attending services. Even the nonreligious Israelis tend to treat Yom Kippur as special and attend services.

3. The IDF granted leave to most of their people to go home and be with their families.

4. Since most people would be away from home, it would be more difficult to get a quick response. In fact, army people had to go to the many synagogues around the country to round up the reservists.

5. As a religious matter, it was a deliberate insult to Judaism.

Anyway, I can recall not a few claims that if we launched the attack on Afghanistan when we did it would fall during Ramadan and that would inflame the Arab street. None of those who asserted that seemed to realize that the Yom Kippur War was hardly the first time Arabs, or Moslems generally for that matter, have launched wars during Ramadan.

Of course, it’s a month that is religiously charged for Arab Moslems and one might argue that they don’t see a problem with killing Jews during that month. Cynics would say that and of course I am credulous and trusting so I reject the idea.