THE SUEZ CRISIS

relations in Middle East before the Suez crisis

Israel-Syria relations poor but not terrible

Israel-Jordan tensions at the border

Egypt-Israel very poor

Arab disunity and distrust of Jordan

growth of Arab republicanism (less stability)

growth of baathism in Syria and Iraq

Israel holds military superiority

no. British troops stationed in the Suez zone

70,000

Causes of the Suez Crisis

increasing frustration at European imperialism

money lost from the canal

raids into Gaza (Egyptian run) by Israel

year Britain enters Egypt

1882

% of shares sold to British by Ismail Pasha

44%

% of ships travelling through the Canal that were British

80%

Urabi Revolt

1882, anti imperial uprising in Egypt- is evidence of Egyptian/Arab nationalism as long as europeans had meddled there

martial law is imposed in the Suez Zone

1948

year Britain left Egypt, except the Canal Zone

1947

Free Officers coup

1952, Farouk removed and exiled

USA and Britain withdraw Aswan Dam funding

July 1956

reasons for the Czech Arms deal

Gaza raids in 1955

Israel antagonisation of Nasser

need for a stronger Egyptian military

Fedayeen raids on Gaza 1955

Feb 1955, Fedayeen kill a handful of Israelis, then IDF kill about 30 Egyptian soldiers

reasons USA and UK withdrew from the Dam Project

fears that Nasser would align himself with the Soviets

Nasser declares the Nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company

26th July, 1956

previous owners of the SCC

Britain

Ways Nasser plans on funding the Dam

print money- but leads to inflation

tax rich- unpopular with the elite

ask the IMF- run by America

nationalise Egyptian banks and sell their assets

no. British ships travelling through Suez/ year

15000

Eden's quote about Nasser's nationalisation of the SCC

'Nasser has his thumb on our windpipe'

importance of the canal for Britain

pathway to the colonies, mainly India

reasons Eden wanted action against Nasser

saw Nasser as a dictator- had opposed appeasement in 1930s against hitler and did not want to appease Nasser during the Cold War period (potentially create a hot war)

reasons Mollet wanted action against Nasser

in order to prevent Nasser supporting the Algerians (spread of Pan Arabism in the Maghreb)

reasons Dulles/ Eisenhower refused supporting an invasion of Egypt

1956 elections- Eisenhower didn't want war in the Middle East to distract from his campaign- Dulles stated USA would not back an invasion

Suez Canal Conference

August 1956, 18/22 countries attending backed reversing the nationalisation of the SCC

Nasser not present

Israel invades Egypt

29th October

Britain and France order a ceasefire between Israel and Egypt

30th October

reaction to the cal, for ceasefire

Israel agree, Egypt refuse

Britain and France begin bombing Egyptian airfields and towns along the canal

31st October

Britain and France forced to withdraw, un enforce ceasefire

6th November

Consequences of the Suez crisis for Britain and France

represents end of their colonial success

Arab nations halt oil supplies to the west

US threaten end of financial support

USSR threatens military action

Britain finally loses control over Suez

Eden forced to resign 2 months later

Consequences of the Suez crisis for USA and USSR

USSR gains closer ties to the Arab World

USA becomes increasingly unpopular in Middle East (like other western powers)

Consequences of the Suez crisis for Egypt and Arabs

Nasser becomes a hero in the Arab world

Canal under complete Egyptian control and is reopened

Egyptian military destroyed

Arab world becomes increasingly anti-western

Egypt now fully independent

increasing distrust of Israel- seen as an outpost of European imperialism

weakening of the Jordanian state- Nasser tries to spark regime change

Lebanon becomes more alienated from Arab world

Suez Canal is reopened

April, 1957

Consequences of the Suez crisis for Israel

Power of IDF recognised

UN patrolling DMZ between Israel and Egypt prevents border raids (UNEF- United Nations Expeditionary Force)

Tiran Straits open for trade

Biggest winners from the Suez Crisis

Nasser- military failure, but hugely important political victory

Israel- got everything they wanted from it (except to get rid of Nasser) and only received a UN slap on the wrist