13
WEEK 5
Periods 1-2
The Suez Crisis of 1956:
On OCTOBER 29th1956, Israel invaded Egypt. Thus the second Arab-Israeli war began. It lasted only a week.
AIMS
To understand why Israel invaded Egypt.
To understand how this decision on the part of Israel was linked to the Suez Crisis was.
To understand what caused the Suez Crisis.
To understand the role of Britain and France in the Suez Crisis and Israel’s part in it.
To understand the impact of the Cold War on the Suez Crisis, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Middle East region.
PERIOD 1
The Suez Crisis
Israel’s Arab neighbours refused to recognise officially Israel as a state
Many Arab states had problems of their own.
The issue of Palestinian refugees exacerbated the problem.
In 1956 a war broke out over the Suez Canal. This involved not only the Arabs and the Israelis but also other powers involved in the Cold War.
BACKGROUND DETAILS TO BE REMEMBERED AND TO BE USED AS BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
The ‘Disaster’ of 1948 led to:
rise of nationalism and more radical Arab ideologies.
criticism of existing political elites which resulted in the following events in Arab countries:
1951: King Abdullah of Jordan assassinated.
1951: Lebanese Prime minister assassinated.
1951: Military coups in Syria.
1952: Military coup in Egypt, overthrow of monarchy – rise of Nasser.
1954: Algerian revolt against the French.
US saw Nasser in a positive way to begin with.
They and GB were thinking of lending him the money to build the Aswam Dam.
He even talked in secret with the Israelis at first.
1953: October – Israelis attack Qibya in Jordan in retaliation against a Fedayeen (‘self-sacrifice’).
1954: October – Brits agree to withdraw forces from Suez zone within 20 months.
1955: February – British negotiate the Bagdhad Pact – with US, Turkey and Iraq. The US saw this as a way of keeping the USSR out of the region. Eden saw this as a way of isolating Nasser.
Nasser was supporting Algeria, and Israel had killed a few Egyptians in a cross-border raid into Gaza.
DETAILS OF THE CRISIS. USEFUL FOR BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
1955: April: Non-Aligned states (this means those states trying to avoid being on one side or the other in the Cold War - in other words, trying to avoid being seen as either Pro US or pro USSR) meet for the first time – Nasser attends (Bandung in Indonesia)
1955: September - Chinese and Soviets offered Nasser weapons. This was a seductive offer as the US offer was on hold. Similarly the money from the World Bank for the Aswam Dam had all sorts of strings attached. USSR hinting at lending Nasser money too.
It was not yet clear for Western powers whether to support Arabs or Israelis.
Eden started to see Nasser in a negative light, as did the French (due to his support for the Algerians)
The U.S. was not sure. Their main concern was to stop spread of USSR influence.
1956
King Hussein of Jordan dismisses the pro-British chief of his army – Nasser supports him
May : Nasser recognises China.
This alienated GB and the US. Congress would not vote the money for the dam.
June: Last British troops left the Canal zone.
July (26th) Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal.
TASK 1
QUESTIONS (Answer the following questions)
1. It is often said that the disaster of 1948 brought about significant immediate and short term political change in Arab countries. Name five examples.
2. What did Zakharia Mohiendin say was one of the causes of/reasons for the 1952 revolution in Egypt?
3. Who was the original leader of the Egyptian revolution?
4. By whom was he replaced as leader of it in 1954?
5. What was the initial attitude of America to Nasser?
6. Give proof of this
7. What date did the British agree to withdraw Britsih forces from Suez in 20 months?
8. When was the Baghdad Pact negotiated and what was its aim?
9. How did Nasser upset the French during this time?
10. Why did Egyptian-Israeli relations deteriorate around this time?
11. What, where and when was the first meeting of the so-called ‘non-aligned states’?
12. What incentive did Nasser have to turn to the Communists at this time?
13. What 2 gestures did Nasser make (and when did he make them?) which distanced him still further from the West and pushed him closer to the Communists?
14. What date did Nasser nationalise the Suez canal?
TASK 1
ANSWERS
1. It is often said that the disaster of 1948 brought about significant immediate and short term political change in Arab countries. Name five examples.
1951: King Abdullah of Jordan assassinated.
1951: Lebanese Prime minister assassinated.
1951: Military coups in Syria.
1952: Military coup in Egypt, overthrow of monarchy – rise of Nasser.
1954: Algerian revolt against the French.
2. What did Zakharia Mohiendin say was one of the causes of/reasons for the 1952 revolution in Egypt?
“The Palestine war”, or, in other words, the Great Disaster.
3. Who was the original leader of the Egyptian revolution?
Naguib.
4. By whom was he replaced as leader of it in 1954?
Nasser.
5. What was the initial attitude of America to Nasser?
They saw him in a positive light at first.
6. Give proof of this
They were prepared to lend him money to build the Aswan Dam.
7. What date did the British agree to withdraw Britsih forces from Suez in 20 months?
October 1954.
8. When was the Baghdad Pact negotiated and what was its aim?
1955: February – An agreement negotiated by the British with US, Turkey and Iraq which the US saw as a way of keeping the USSR out of the Middle East region and Eden saw this as a way of isolating Nasser.
9. How did Nasser upset the French during this time?
By aiding rebels in Algeria against the French.
10. Why did Egyptian-Israeli relations deteriorate around this time?
Due to a cross-border retaliatory raid by Israel into Gaza which led to the death of a number of Egyptian soldiers.
11. What, where and when was the first meeting of the so-called ‘non-aligned states’?
1955: April, Bandung in Indonesia: This means those states trying to avoid being on one side or the other in the Cold War. In other words, trying to avoid being seen as either Pro US or pro USSR) meet for the first time.
12. What incentive did Nasser have to turn to the Communists at this time?
Because the US loans for his Aswan Dam project had been put on hold and the offer from the World Bank had many strings attached, whilst the Chinese and the Russians seemed ready to help with weapons.
13. What 2 gestures did Nasser make (and when did he make them?) which distanced him still further from the West and pushed him closer to the Communists?
Nasser supported King Hussein of Jordan’s dismissal of the pro-British chief of his army and in
May 1956, Nasser recognises China.
14. What year did Nasser nationalise the Suez Canal?
July 26th 1956
PERIOD 2
THE ROLE OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE IN THE SUEZ CRISIS
British saw this as a threat to her sea links with their Empire and interests in Middle East, especially oil.
The British decided to try diplomacy before choosing the military option.
The British immediately involved the US and the French.
They wanted to avoid the UN because USSR had a seat and thus a possible veto on the Security Council.
Decided to hold a Conference in August, whilst secretly organising a military operation called Operation Musketeer. (This also involved setting up SCUA – Suez Canal Users Association)
AUGUST
The Conference suggested setting up the Canal Zone as an international waterway overseen by the UN.
Nasser refused. His refusal was seen by the Western powers as a sign of Soviet influence.
OCTOBER (1 week before US presidential elections)
Paris plan: get the Israeli’s to invade Egypt, then make it look like the British and French were intervening to stop the fighting, occupy the Canal Zone and remove Nasser.
OCTOBER 25th Eden order all copies of this agreement to be destroyed. French and Israelis kept theirs.
OCTOBER 29th:1956 : Israel invades Egpyt. Thus the second Arab-Israeli war begins.
The war lasted only a week, from 29th October until early November 1956.
Israel attacked across the Sinai, captured most of the peninsula and Gaza, and were soon within the Canal Zone.
Anglo-French (according to plan) issued an ultimatum asking both sides to withdraw.
Egpyt rejects it and appeals to UN.
Anglo-French airforce attacks Egypt.
This upset the US.
Same day, the Soviets went back in to Hungary to suppress a Hungarian anti-Soviet uprising.
Nasser defeated militarily. Anglo-French forces took over Canal Zone
However, he won a diplomatic victory. The UK and France were condemned.
November 2nd UN General Assembly had its first ever Emergency Session. It passed an American resolution calling for a ceasefire.
November 6th: Ceasefire.
TASK
QUESTIONS
1. Why were the British so interested in the Suez Canal?
2. Why did the British involve the US and French, but not the UN at first?
3. What was the name of the secret military operation which the British organised?
4. What did the Conference of August 1956 suggest as a way to ensure the smooth running of the UN?
5. What was Nasser’s reaction to this and how was it seen by the West?
6. What was the Paris Plan of Anthony Eden?
7. What date did the second Arab-Israeli war begin, and who invaded who?
8. How long did the war last? Give dates
9. What event affected Soviet military support for Nasser?
10. Name two results of this war.
11. What met for the first time ever during this war and what did it do? (give dates)
12. What date did the war end?
TASK
ANSWERS
2. Why were the British so interested in the Suez Canal?
Because of her Indian Empire and her interests in Middle East, especially oil.
2. Why did the British involve the US and French, but not the UN at first?
They wanted to avoid the UN because USSR had a seat and thus a possible veto on the Security Council.
3. What was the name of the secret military operation which the British organised?
Operation Musketeer.
4. What did the Conference of August 1956 suggest as a way to ensure the smooth running of the UN?
Setting up the Canal Zone as an international waterway overseen by the UN.
5. What was Nasser’s reaction to this and how was it seen by the West?
Nasser refused. His refusal was seen by the Western powers as a sign of Soviet influence.
6. What was the Paris Plan of Antyhony Eden?
To get the Israeli’s to invade Egypt, then make it look like the British and French were intervening to stop the fighting, occupy the Canal Zone and remove Nasser.
7. What date did the second Arab-Israeli war begin, and who invaded who?
OCTOBER 29th:1956 : Israel invaded Egpyt.
8. How long did the war last? Give dates
The war lasted only a week, from 29th October until early November 1956.
9. What event affected Soviet military support for Nasser?
The very same day as the war began, the Soviets went back in to Hungary to suppress a Hungarian anti-Soviet uprising.
10. Name two results of this war.
Nasser defeated militarily. Anglo-French forces took over Canal Zone
However, Nasser won a diplomatic victory as the UK and France were condemned.
11. What met for the first time ever during this war and what did it do? (give dates)
On November 2nd UN General Assembly had its first ever Emergency Session. It passed an American resolution calling for a cease-fire.
12. What date did the war end?
November 6th.
TASK
1. Describe the role of the British in the Suez Crisis?
2. Describe the role of the French in the Suez Crisis?
TASK
1. Describe the role of the British in the Suez Crisis?
The role of the British in the Suez Crisis can be described as fighter, broker and long term cause.
Their decision in October 1954 to pull out their troops from the Canal zone within 20 months alongside the Baghad Pact engotaitoed with Turkey, Iraq and the US had distanced them from Nasser and had tries to isolate him. Although it was the Israeli’s who began this war by invading Egypt on October 25th 1956, this was part of a plan organised by and an international agreement brokered the British. Rather than being seen as intervening to protect their imperial interests in India and their oil interests in the Middle East by reclaiming the Suez Canal, the British wanted to be seen by the international community as intervening to bring about peace between the Israeli’s and Arabs – a conflict they were at the time still seen to have done so much in causing through their actions and policies during the British Mandate in Palestine. One could even describe the British as the main long term cause of the Suez Crisis given that Nasser’s decision to nationalise has to be seen in the context of the popular nationalist Egyptian nationalist desire to finally assert themselves against the power of British Imperialism by which their country had been ruled since Cromer, if not before. It was certainly Eden amongst all the Western powers who saw Nasser as threat. It was also the gradual decay of British rule in the area that might have encouraged Nasser.
2. Describe the role of the French in the Suez Crisis?