Zoe Murphy's List: Suez Crisis

The 1956 Suez Crisis was a pivotal moment for both the Middle East and the wider politics of the Cold War. It marked the first major attempt by Western powers and Israel to weaken the growing influence of Egypt's president, Gamel Abdul Nasser, who nationalized the Suez Canal in July 1956 as part of his efforts to weaken foreign controls in Egypt and boost ties with the Soviet Union and China. The attacks by France, Britian and Israel, with some backing from the United States sought to re-establish Western hold over the strategic seaway, which they feared could fall under communist control because of Nasser's anti-Western policies. But they failed to win a clear victory over Egypt, increasing Nasser's status in the Arab world and making Egypt one of the critical Middle Eastern battlegrounds between the West and the Soviets during the Cold War.

Suez Crisis.

The suez Crisis started in 1956. It started when Nassar refused to life the blockade on Israel (Strait of Tiran). He also brought in soviet arms and recognized communist China. Therefore, the United States (Dulles) stopped funding for the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. Nasser then nationalized the Suez Canal. Countries that supported the United States like Israel who were encouraged by Great Britain and France attacked Egypt.  Even though Nasser is eventually defeated he is seen as a hero in the Arab World. The Israelis then return to the Sinai. After all this is over Egypt is more willing to take soviet aid. The nationalization of the Suez Canal hit was a particular blow for British economic and military interests. There were many in Britain who wanted to topple Nasser. It was also a big test of Israel's military just eight years after the Israel-Arab war after Israel was declared a state by the UN. However, US was worried about Israel getting involved because it could touch off another Mideast war.

It all started after the nationalization of the suez canal, which the british and French saw as a direct threat to their political and military interests in the middle east. At the same time, Nasser was making closer ties with the Soviets and this was seen by the West as a possible change to the balance of power in the region. Israel joined the fight as a chance to claim territory as a buffer zone against Egypt at a time when Israel was still worried about its survival. The main significance of the Crisis was that Nasser didn’t win outright, but the fact that he managed to hold off until a U.S.-brokered peace deal made him the main hero of the Arab world and established Egypt as the political center of Arabs for decades. Also that Egypt turned to the US -- and not the Soviets -- to get a ceasefire. This was seem as a diplomatic victory for America, especially after Israel agreed to withdraw it forces from the canal zone.

Even though France and Britain were two main components in the Suez war they surprisingly did not have many human loses. In the war 22,000 men combined were sent to invade Egypt, Britain lost 16 men and France lost 10. Israeli causalities were much higher about 200 men were killed in total. There is no exact number to how many Egyptians died but it is certain that they lost and suffered the most in this war. An example is when Egyptians feared that the Israelis much trap them in the Sinai peninsula. They quickly left unfortunately in the chaos many died lost and famished. Another key event that caused many Egyptian losses was the attack in Port Said. A significant amount of damage was caused by Anglo-French shell-fire. Yes, Egypt did loose many more people than any other country involved in this war but does that mean they are real losers? Materialistically speaking the French and the British were the real losers. Everything from the canal downward everything perviously owned by the French or British became property of the Egyptians. Which was a great win for Egypt.

Citation:

Harper, Paul. The Suez Crisis. Vero Beach Florida: Rourke Enterprises, 1987. Print.

The Suez Crisis set the tone for the Middle East for many years after. Nasser came out a hero in the eyes of many Arabs and helped launched his idea of pan-Arab power, meaning that the region's countries and tribes should come together against outside forces. Nasser's pan-Arab dreams helped boost the regimes in places such as Syria and Iraq, which further cut into the power of France and Britain in the region. For the United States, the crisis cemented its role as a big brother for Israel and the pro-Western Arab countries that also were worried about Egypt's links to the Soviets and Chinese.