T HE S UEZ C RISIS

T HE S UEZ C ANAL

B RIEF H ISTORY The Suez canal is a large artificial canal in Egypt – 106km long and 300 metres wide at its narrowest point. It links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Before it was built, goods were often offloaded and carried over land between the two seas.

‘West Bank’-Jordanian Gaza Strip-Egyptian Israel Golan Heights-Syrian

E GYPT, 1949 Military was angry at being defeated by Israel and sought revenge. Egypt closed the Suez canal and the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli ships in 1949, and continued to try to strangle Israeli trade this way. Supported Arab Palestinians in the Gaza strip and enabled them to launch attacks into Israel.

Canal had been important as the trade link between Britain (Europe) and India.Canal had been important as the trade link between Britain (Europe) and India. Canal found a new role in oil transportation between Europe and the Middle East.Canal found a new role in oil transportation between Europe and the Middle East. The Suez Canal

T HE S UEZ CANAL

K ING F AROUK I ( ) The Thief of Cairo Pictured here with Arab friends, although he was friendlier with European leaders.

T HE S UEZ C RISIS (1956) 1952 Army officers ‘The Free Officers Movement’ in Egypt overthrew the King (Farouk) and put Gamal Nasser in power. Nasser was anti-colonialist, and Arab nationalist. He also had ideas of pan-Arabism which won him much support from other Arab countries. Britain, and others, initially regarded him as a possible strong leader who might help to solve the Arab-Israeli crisis. He managed to remove British influence over the Suez canal and won huge loans from Britain and America for the building of a dam (the Aswan High Dam). He then, however, began arms trading with Communist countries. Britain and the USA were furious and cut his funding. In retaliation Nasser promptly nationalized (took control of) the Suez Canal (1956) precipitating a crisis between Europe and Egypt.

G AMAL A BDEL N ASSER

T IMELINE OF US-USSR POWER - PLAYS OVER A SWAN 9/55: Nasser announces Czech arms deal 12/55: US and Britain pledge $56 and $14 million respectively towards construction of dam 5/56: Nasser recognizes communist China, which is in direct conflict with Dulles’s policy of containment 6/56: Soviets offer Nasser $1,120,000,000 at 2% interest for the construction of the dam. 7/56: US State Dept announces withdrawal of financial support for dam project 7/56: Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, precipitating Suez Crisis 1958: USSR stepped in and funded the dam project and provided technicians and heavy machinery

The Aswan dam. In holding back one of the world’s longest rivers (the Nile) it created the world’s biggest reservoir at the time –Lake Nasser.

U NITED A RAB R EPUBLIC ( ) Nasser’s idea to join Syria & Egypt into one nation; precursor to creating a massive pan-Arab world led by him. The idea won much approval, at first, from Arabs. It proved more difficult to keep all the diverse groups of Arabic people together, however, in the long run. Syria left the union in 1961 Egypt continued to call itself UAR until 1971, just after Nasser’s death.

T HE WAR PLAN. THEATRE: Israel would attack Egypt, prompting the great regional powers of Britain and France to step in and separate the warring countries, thus returning the canal to their control.

T HE WAR PLAN. REAL PLAN: France approached Israel for military assistance against the Egyptians: Britain & France would capture the canal and Israel would sweep across the Sinai peninsula pushing Arab people even further back from her borders. Israel was eager to demonstrate her independence, and might, to all her enemies.

A N A NGLO -F RENCH TASK FORCE HEADS TOWARDS S UEZ. British ‘V’ bombers follow the ships. British Aircraft carriers head to the Suez canal.

N EW A MERICAN ‘ SABRE ’ JETS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE YOUNG I SRAELI AIR FORCE.

Egyptian soldiers defend the canal zone. The Egyptians sink ships to block the canal completely.

Israeli tanks hurl themselves across the Sinai desert. French and British paratroopers land from the air.

I SRAEL EXPANDS AT E GYPTIAN EXPENSE

S UEZ C ANAL C RISIS POV Egypt Nasser asserts independence from Britain Arab Self Determination and Unity (Pan Arabism) Funds insurgents in other countries Advance the army and economy of industry from WWII No Israeli ships allowed Israel Civil War and Independence in 1949 Surrounded by enemies Supported by the USA Advanced military Protect themselves from future Holocausts Punish Egypt for giving Palestinian Guerrillas a base

S UEZ C ANAL C RISIS POV USA Influence in Middle East Contain Communism Promote Capitalism and democracy Protect Natural Resources Oil Shipping lines 70 million in aid to build Aswan dam on the Nile Up 1/3 cultivatable land Up 1/2 Egypt's electric power Flex Super Power USSR Influence in Middle East Promote Communism Prevent Capitalism Assist Post Colonial States 1955 pledge to supply military arms in return for cotton and rice Flex Super Power

S UEZ C ANAL C RISIS POV France Protect its North African Empire Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia Re-establish dominance in International Relations Punish Nasser for support of Algerian insurgency Great Britain Keep control of Suez Canal (74 years) or have Multinational control over the canal Prime Minister Anthony Eden views Nasser as Hitler of the Middle East Overthrow Nasser Maintain the Baghdad Pact

U NITED N ATIONS CALLED IN BY THE USA TO STOP THE WAR The USA found itself unable to support Britain and France. With Soviet (USSR) support the United Nations was allowed to act.The USA found itself unable to support Britain and France. With Soviet (USSR) support the United Nations was allowed to act. Watchful of the Soviet advance into Hungary the USA couldn’t take a moral defence of Hungary and allow its own allies to walk into Egypt. Cold War brinkmanship took precedence over the Middle East.Watchful of the Soviet advance into Hungary the USA couldn’t take a moral defence of Hungary and allow its own allies to walk into Egypt. Cold War brinkmanship took precedence over the Middle East. The USA put financial pressure on Britain to quit. Saudi Arabia meanwhile cut back Britain’s oil supplies.The USA put financial pressure on Britain to quit. Saudi Arabia meanwhile cut back Britain’s oil supplies.

T HE C RISIS E NDS Britain, France and Israel all withdrew from the Canal Zone and Israel had to give back the Gaza strip to Egyptian control. The United Nations put a peacekeeping force in to cover the Sinai Peninsula, and to keep the enemies apart. Egypt reopened the Straits of Tiran. It had been a diplomatic victory for Egypt, and a humiliation for Israel, Britain and France. It showed the world that real power lay with the super-powers USA and Communist USSR. No-one could act without their approval. Maybe it was the last fling of British Imperialism. For a while, peace…..