Increased tension 1955-63

Question 1

Who was King Farouk I

Answer 1

King of Egypt 1936-52
-More friendly with European powers than Arabs (disliked by arabs)
-AKA “Thief of Cairo” as he would steal things on state visits

Question 2

How did Colonel Nasser gain power?

Answer 2

Military coup to overthrow Farouk in 1952

Question 3

What were Nassers 3 aims after coming to power?

Answer 3

Prosperity: he wanted to improve lives of ordinary Egyptians

Independence: he wanted to free Egypt from British occupation

Pride: he wanted Arabs everywhere to be proud of themselves and believe in their united strength

Question 4

How did Nasser achieve each of these aims?

Answer 4

Independence: removed Britain from Suez canal and could only return if there was an attack. Told Arab states to be independent and neutral in cold war.

Pride: Stood up to Britain. Nasser was champion of Arab Nationalism

Prosperity: internal reform, redistributed land to peasants and to build schools and hospitals. Received donations from USA and Britain to build hydro-electric dams

Question 5

Causes of Israeli raid on Gaza 1955

Answer 5

Cyclist in Israel killed by Palestinian militants.
Wanting to expose Nasser as weak and prevent united Arabs
Provoke Egyptian attacks to justify Israeli military fund.

Question 6

Events of Israeli raid on Gaza 1955

Answer 6

Operation Black Arrow: IDF launched massive raid on Egyptian army HQ killing 38

Reprisal attack to Feyadeen raid lead to 72 Egyptian soldiers dead

Question 7

Consequences of Israeli raid on Gaza 1955

Answer 7

-Palestinians rioted from Nasser to act
-Nasser gave $300 million of Egyptian cotton for around 850 pieces of military equipment including guns, tanks, fighter jets
-Humiliation for Egyptians. Leading to reprisal Fedayaan attacks with increased funding from Nasser
-Tensions rose
–Israel allied with France & Britain to take part in invasion of Sinai Peninsula & canal.

Question 8

When was Israeli raid on Gaza

Answer 8

1955

Question 9

Causes for Israeli raid on Sinai 1956

Answer 9

Israel felt threatened by Egypt
>partly bc Nasser put in command of Jordan &Syria called the tripartite
>Acquired Soviet equipment after deal with Czachoslovakia
>attacks on Israeli border from Feyadeen

Question 10

Events of Israeli raid on Sinai 1956

Answer 10

-Lasted 100 hrs
-Chief Dayan outflanked durrounded and defeated Israeli forced
>but Israeli air force destroys over 90 Egyptian armoured vehicles and IDF abke to capture most of the Sinai

Question 11

Consequences of Israeli raid on Sinai 1956

Answer 11

-Israel captured Sinai desert & Gaza strip
-Israel lost only 23 whilst Egypt had 7000 dead or wounded
-Highlighted strength of Israel and weakness of Egypt
-Israel withdrew from Sinai in 1957 due to US pressure
-UN peacekeepers separate Egypt and Israel

Question 12

Why was the Suez Canal valuable to the British?

Answer 12

British used it to trade with majority of Asia and South Africa.
-saves the a 2 week journey going aroundAfrica
-2/3 of Europe’s oil passed through canal

Question 13

Why was the Suez Canal valuable to the Arabs?

Answer 13

Egypt could tax ships going through and make major profit

Question 14

What caused the Suez crisis?

Answer 14

1)Operation Black Arrow

2)Fedayaan attack killed 11 Israelis and reprisal killed 72 Egyptians

3)Nasser makes public arms deal with Czechoslovakia and blocks Israeli’s trade route (Straits of Tiran)

4)Nov 1955 Israel decides to attack before Egyptian weapons arrive. IDF attack on Gaza kills 50 Egyptian soldiers then a mortar attack in 1956 kills 58 civilians. Egyptian were not provoked

5)USA & BRITAIN offer $270 million for Aswan High Dam in attempt to prevent Egypt-USSR alliance. This plan fails

6)Nasser nationalises canal and compensates previous owners. Britain and France think this is illegal and a threat to their trade in Middle East

7) Sevres agreement: Israel, France, England plan to take control over Suez Canal. Israel invades canal and France and England come pretending to keep the peace

Question 15

Americans during Suez Crisis

Answer 15

President Eisenhower did not approve with actions taking part in Suez crisis. He was not informed of sevres agreement. He also did not want a foreign policy crisis during his reelection campaign.

He also hoped for Nasser as a cold war ally or atleast stop him from joining Soviet sphere of influence.

Question 16

Consequences of Suez Crisis

Answer 16

GB:
-Resignation of Prime Minister
-Demonstrated this country’s limited ability to act independently of the US
-Humiliating defeat
-Collapse of influence in Middle East and loss of international reputation

EGYPT
-UN peacekeepers in Sinai desert
-Nasser gained credit for standing up to UK and France
-Country now had complete control over Suez canal
-Syria proposes merging of Syria and Egypt into UAR
-Destruction of Fedayeen strength in Gaza

ISRAEL
-Military success though it now had to withdraw from Sinai and Gaza
-Main economic goal achieved: Straits of Tiran blockade was lifted

USSR:
-Growing influence in the Middle East. Agreed to pay for Aswan Dam
-Allied with Egypt

Question 17

Events of Suez Crisis

Answer 17

29 OCT 1956
Britain and France order surrender of both sides, as expected Nasser disagrees
Britain and France invade, bombing Cairo
Fail as Nasser sinks ships in the Suez Canal to block it