Middle East Nasser & The Suez Crisis

Explaining the Importance of Nasser and Egypt’s leadership of the Arab world

Aim 1, Independence: Wanted Egypt free from British “occupation”, agreed with Britain for troops to leave the Suez canal, who would only return if another country attacked the canal (this led to Suez Crisis in 1956).

Aim 2, Prosperity: Wanted to improve the lives of ordinary Egyptians who were mostly farmers and had high levels of poverty, they wanted to redistribute land and build schools/hospital, aimed to build the Aswan Dam - needed money and entered talks with USA and Britain, (also led to the Suez Crisis).

Aim 3, Arab unity and pride: As a result he was championed the Palestinians as a unifying cause which allowed the Fedayeen to use Gaza to launch attacks and provided training, funding and weapons, (also also led to the Suez Crisis, the UAR, Cairo Conference, continued support for Palestinians and Egyptian involvement in the Six Day War 1967).

Narrative account of the events that led to the Suez Crisis, 1956

IDF attacks on Gaza: Feb 1955, IDF carried out raid on Egyptian army HQ in Gaza, killing 38 soldiers, Nasser agrees to a secret deal with Czechoslovakia exchanging $300 million of cotton for tanks, MIG fighter-jets and bombers. Aug 1955, Fedayeen raid killed 11 Israelis leading to a reprisal on Gaza which killed 72 Egyptian soldiers.

Egypt nationalised: Nasser made the arms deal public and closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships, made Israel feel war was inevitable & better done before new weapons arrived, US and UK withdrew offer of $270 million loan to build the Aswan Dam, Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal in order to pay for the dam.

The Sévres agreement: Britain and France were angry about the nationalisation of Suez, Israel wanted to deal with the Egyptian threat. Israel would invade Egypt - Britain and France would then send troops to ‘keep the peace’, all 3 wanted to overthrow Nasser.

Narrative account on the events of the Suez Crisis 1956

The Sévres agreement: Same thing as the last flashcard I’ll just paste it over here 😁.

Britain and France were angry about the nationalisation of Suez, Israel wanted to deal with the Egyptian threat. Israel would invade Egypt - Britain and France would then send troops to ‘keep the peace’, all 3 wanted to overthrow Nasser.

Israeli and British/French invasion: 29th Oct, Israel occupied Gaza and dropped paratroopers into Sinai (near the Suez Canal), they also sent 1000 men in vehicles towards Sharm El Shaikh, both Britain and France ordered both sides to stop fighting and withdraw 16km either side of the Suez, Nasser refused then Britain bombed Cairo & Britain/France landed paratroopers to advance towards Suez, Israel occupied Sharm El Sheikh and opened the Straits of Tiran.

Intervention of the USA: Nasser sunk ships in the Suez Canal to make it unusable, 6th Nov the UN called for a ceasefire, the US condemned Britain and France and called for them and Israel to leave Egypt.

Little epic tip

You can’t predict every question where it asks for you to explain the importance of an event. You need to make sure you know the narratives and are then able to explain the importance of certain events in them.

Explain the importance/consequences of Nasser’s arms deal with Czechoslovakia

Made Israel accept war with Egypt as necessary: This helps explain their willingness to enter the Sévres agreement and invade Egypt in 1956.

Led to the USA and Britain withdrawing the offer of a loan to pay for the Aswan Dam: This then meant that Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal to pay for the dam, which in turn led to Britain and France’s role in the 1956 Suez Crisis.

Aligned Egypt with the USSR rather than the US in the Cold War: This contributed to the US withdrawing offer of $270 million loan and meant that in future conflicts Egypt was supported by the USSR and in the end Israel by the US

Made Egypt more confident and assertive: Even though they still lost all of their main conflicts with Israel, they played a more aggressive role in the start of the 6-Day War and Yom Kippur War.

Consequences/Importance of the Suez Crisis

Israel: Egypt’s military strength temporarily weakened, destroyed Fedayeen bases in Gaza, blockade on the Straits of Tiran lifted, IDF had proven it could beat an Arab army, UN peacekeepers were sent to Sinai which added to Israel’s security.

Britain: Failed to remove Nasser or regain control of the Suez Canal, international reputations damaged, lost influence with Middle Eastern countries as they were now clearly Israeli allies, the British PM resigned.

Superpowers (USA and USSR): USSR was now firmly allied with Egypt and as a result had a presence in the region, USA took over from Britain and France as the key Western power in the region.

Egypt: Kept control of the Suez Canal, the USSR agreed to pay for the Aswan Dam, USSR supported Nasser to rebuild armed forces, 25k of Egypt’s 40k Jews emigrated after discrimination and bans from working as teachers, lawyers or doctors.