Suez Crisis 1956

Cause

Egypt nationalises Suez Canal

Enrages Britian and France, as they were major shareholders, 1/3 of ships were British

Britain and France are determined to gain control of Canal, Israel would overthrow Egyptian President if necessary- Sevres Protocol (Oct)

Sevres Protocol October 24th

Secret meeting between Israeli, British and French leaders to determine what each country would perform

Ending

US threatens to withdraw support of $1B loan if fighting continued- was enraged at Israel, Britian and France as US had not been made aware of the agreement

Soviet Union threatens to stop violence through their own violence

Result

Did not recapture the Suez Canal

Israel gains control of the Gaza/ Gaza Strip, only losing 230 soldiers

Israeli intentions

Wanted to end raids from Gaza border and force Egypt to recognize Israel as a state

Break Egyptian blockage of Tiran Straits, preventing Israeli ships reaching port of Eilat

Worried of increasing army size of Arab states

Occurances

29 October- Israeli forces invade Egypt, crossing Sinai 100,000 troops

30 October- France and Britain ordered ceasefire between Israel and Egypt, but Egypt refuses, as Canal was Egyptian territory

31 October- British and French planes bombed Egypt airfields, destroyed majority of air forces

5 November- British and French land at Port Said, advancing to the Canal

Egyptian retaliation

Sinks ships full of concrete to obstruct British and French advancements across Canal

United Nation steps in

Arab states halt oil supply to the West

6 November- UN calls ceasefire and sends emergency forces to Canal

Results of Egypt

Nasser becomes hero of the Arab world, for standing up to Britain and France, countries that had dominated Middle East for so long

Lost Sinai territory, gained back in 1957

Claimed that Israel only had defeated them due to British and French support

USSR and Egypt

Suez Crisis made many Arab states anti-western, and therefore turned to Russia for support

Russia began to supply most of Egypt’s weapons and paid for building of Aswar Dam and other projects

Leaders during

Egypt- Nasser

Israel- Ben Gurion

French foreign minister- Pineau

British secretary of state- Dean

Reason for outcome

US and Russian intervention- threat of violence and $1billion loan withdrawal

Impact on Egypt

Airfields and planes mainly destroyed

Impact on Arab states

PLO emerges as a treat- terrorist group

Resolution 181 of partition failed as Israel occupies land designated to Arab states