suez Flashcards
(29 cards)
Free Officers coup
1952: Goal was to oust King Farouk, end colonialism, strengthen army, have free education
Effects of fedayeen raids
1950: they kill 19 Israelis
1951: they kill 48
Israel accuses Egypt of instigating the raids
Qibaya raid
1953 October: Israel’s retaliation against fedayeen raids, where Ben Gurion ordered an attack on the Qibaya village after the attack of the village of Yehud. 69 die.
Lavon affair
1954 July: in a plan by Lavon, Israel’s defense minister, Israeli agents and Egyptian Jews plant bombs in British and American property in Egypt to create discord between the Egyptian government and the West and persuade the British their military presence was needed, creating a buffer between Egypt and Israel.
However this plan was exposed, causing Lavon to resign, damaging Israel’s international reputation, and bringing Ben Gurion back into power as Sharett was embarassed
Nasser replaces Naguib as PM
October 1954: He is seen by the West and more moderate, and the USA gave Nasser aid such as for the Aswan high dam
Egyptian intelligence squad kills Israeli cyclist
Feb 1955
Nasser’s shift to the USSR
1955:
- Nasser refused to join Baghdad pact, which would have been a treaty organisation countering USSR influence
- signed Czech arms deal
Gaza Raid
Feb 28 1955:
- 38 Egyptian soldiers killed
- Used by Nasser as excuse to turn to USSR for arms and close Straits
Czech arms deal and French military aid
1955: Egypt gets $85M in Soviet weaponry
1956: Israel gets 90 Mystere fighters from France
Egypt nationalizes Suez canal company
July 26 1956
Soviet statement about nationalisation
August 9 1959: Soviets issue Statement to London conference saying the West can only object to nationalisation if Cairo refuses to reimburse shareholders
Reasons for nationalisation
- Assumption that it would be accepted: after the 1951 nationalisation of the Anglo-Iranian oil company, UK only imposed sanctions
- Need to finance the Aswan Dam after the USA stopped funding it in July 1956
Reasons for US opposition to Sevres protocol
- Eisenhower’s re-election campaign in November 1956
- Eisenhower felt decieved
- Would be hypocritical to not condemn the tripartite aggression given they had just condemned the USSR’s intervention in the October-November Hungarian revolution
Reasons for UK invading
- Deprived Britain of profits
- Loss of control: British oil tankers passed through Suez
- Nasser’s neutrality stood against CEATO plan
Sevres protocol
October 24 1956: Plan by British, French, Israel:
- Israel would invade Sinai
- British and French government would ask both Israel and Egypt to withdraw their troops
- Egypt would accept ‘temporary’ occupation of canal by Anglo-French forces
Israel invades Sinai
Oct 29 1956
UNSC resolution attempt at solving crisis
Oct 30 1956: resolution, as the US’s request, to make Israel withdraw its troops from Egyptian territory, was vetoed by Britain and France
SUCCESSFUL UNSC resolution
November 2 1956: 64-5 resolution in general assembly demanding immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops
Britain and france invade anyways lol
Nov 5 1956
domestic opposition against Eden
- After nationalisation in July, public anger had subsided as the canal was not mismanaged
- Public opinion poll: 37% support, 44% oppose the war
- Nov 4: Trafalgar Square “Law not war” protest with 30,000 people
US opposition against attack
- Pressures Britain and France to halt after the US’ proposal for the UN resolution
- Condemns Israeli aggression placing sanctions, threatens severing of US-Israeli relations
By Nov 6, Eden and Mollet announce ceasefire due to US pressure
USSR oppositon against attack
Khruschev threatened nuking Western Europe if Britain France and Israel dont withdraw lol
Saudi Arabia opposition to attack
Placed oil embargo on Britain and France, which the USA refused to fill the gap of if no rapid withdrawal
Results of Suez crisis
- Military defeat for Nasser, but he is hailed as the only Arab leader able to challenge the West: Egypt is established as leader of Arab world
- Israeli military reputation improves, arguably delaying an Arab-Israeli war. UNEF guarrantees free movement in the Gulf of Aqaba giving them the red sea port
- Perception that Nasser challenged Britain and France leads to decline of their influence in ME. Harold Macmillan, Eden’s successor, accelerates decolonisation and restores special relationship
