The Suez Crisis of 1956 Jose Hernandez, Noell Mayoral, Hanh Bui, Morgan Pengelly, Zane Warner, and Logan B-S.

Timeline of Events May 14th, 1948-Declaration of establishment of State of Isreal. May 15th, 1948- Start of first Arab-Israeli war. Oct 19, 1954-Britain cedes Suez Canal to Egypt, given 2 years to withdraw. Aug-Oct, 1955-Israeli and Egyptian forces clash in Gaza and El Auja June 13th, 1956-Britain officially relinquishes control of canal ending 72 years of British rule July 30th, 1956-Britain reclaims canal after Nasser attempts to nationalize it starting crisis Oct 29th, 1956-Israel invades Sinai Peninsula Nov. 6th, 1956 Peace talks break down, British and French troops are mobilized with US support Nov. 29, 1956-Tripartite invasion is ended under pressure from UN and Egypt controls canal

Arab Points The nationalization of the Suez canal on Jul 26, 1956 in order to obtain the financing of the Aswan Dam provided the Casus belief for Anglo-French decisions-maker Britain and France refuses to recognize Egypt sovereignty over the canal Britain and France would ask Egypt and Israel to withdrawal from the canal

On October 31, the British and French bomb Egyptian airfield, because they were refusing to with-drawl from the canal British and French paratroopers invaded, only to be force to halt their military operation as a result of the United State pressure

Key Players Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, and was attacked by Israel, France, and Britain Israel instigated the conflict by invading Egypt Britain and France each backed up Isreal, bombing Egypt The United States and the Soviet Union both pressured the UN to end the conflict

Key Battles Operation Kadesh: The Isreali military operation seeking to capture four key strategic locations, including a port giving access to the Red Sea. It was the operation that started hostilities. Battle of Jebel Heitan: A battle where Isreal broke a strategically important entrenched Egyptian position, seizing high ground and routing Egyptian troops.

Outcome of the Suez Conflict Egyptian and Soviet political victory Western coalition military victory with subsequent forced Anglo-French withdrawal Israeli occupation of Sinai (until March 1957) United Nations cease-fire UNEF deployment in Sinai Straits of Tiran re-opened to Israeli shipping Resignation of Anthony Eden as British Prime Minister. End of Britain's role as a Superpower Guy Mollet's position as French Prime Minister heavily damaged and a major factor in his resignation five months after Eden's

Sources The Fraser text The Schulze packet http://library.thinkquest.org/20176/suez.htm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/571713/Suez-Crisis http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/suez.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Crisis