It was a preemptive strike, ladies, but it was made at a time when the forces of Egypt's armored battalions were lining up on the border of Israel seemingly about to make a massive move, and under the circumstances, the Israelis felt the premptive strike was a life-or-death decision, since they were so extremely outclassed in numbers and firepower. That they not only survived but won is entriely due to their use of tactical surprise, and perhaps more "inspired" tactics. There was definite provication, just none that qualified as a legal act of war yet. In terms of ground truth they did what they had to do to survive under what seemed to be an extreme threat.

A