The Arab-Israeli Wars (1956-present)

Israel: 1947 & Israel: 1949

Palestinian Refugees Palestinian Diaspora

Gamal Abdel Nasser President of Egypt Suez Crisis (1956) Gamal Abdel Nasser President of Egypt

Causes of the Suez Crisis Nasser takes control of Egypt Egyptian-Israeli tensions: Cross border raids Nasser turns to Soviet bloc for weapons (Czech Arms deal)

Goals of Suez Crisis Egypt: Israel: Nationalized the Canal to get financing for Aswan Dam Weaken Israel Israel: Self-defense—reaction to Egypt’s move towards the USSR Or possibly planned intervention

Goals of Suez Crisis British role French Role: Maintain trade route to India/Middle East Egypt seen moving to Soviet camp Nasser’s position as leader of Anti-British feeling in Middle East and Africa French Role: Egypt supported Algerians fighting the French in Algeria Decided to overthrow Nasser

Goals of the Suez Crisis United States’ role: Against the tripartite attack But saw Egypt as moving towards Soviets Domestic politics—Eisenhower’s re-election campaign USSR’s role: Opportunity to spread influence in the region

The Crisis Israel, France and Britain form Tripartite Plan is for Israel to seize the canal France & Britain call for Egypt and Israel to pull out Egypt doesn’t French and British troops secure the Canal, kick Egypt out

What actually happened? Israel attacks, France and Britain cal for withdrawal, Egypt doesn’t, French British forces attack US pressures all for a UN backed cease-fire US doesn’t want a war, possibly with Soviet involvement US wants to maintain balanced relations in Middle East (oil in particular)

Effects Nasser weakened militarily, but politically the “winner” Expands Egypt’s influence in Arab world Egypt maintains control of canal Israel gains by showing the strength of its military and assuring trade freedom in the Red Sea France and Britain the ‘losers’ US and USSR emerge as major world players

Question to think about Did the superpowers bring the Cold War into the Middle East during the crisis, or did regional leaders use Cold War tensions for their own ends?

Dwight Eisenhower: US Gamal Abdel Nasser: Egypt David Ben-Gurion: Israel Anthony Eden: Britain Guy Mollet: France Nikita Khrushchev: USSR

Six-Day War (1967) UN Resolution 242 . UN Resolution 338

Palestine Liberation Organization Yassir Arafat

Yom-Kippur War (Oct., 1973)

Camp David Accords (1979) President President Prime Minister Anwar Sadat Jimmy Carter Menachem Begin of Egypt of the U. S. Of Israel

Camp David Accords (1979)

Palestinian Intifada-Part I (1987-1993)

The Expansion of Israel