Was the Suez War in 1956 an instance of Israeli, British, and French aggression and imperialism?

Question

Or were there other significant factors? Such as the Egyptian nationalization of the Suez Canal and support of the Feyadeen.

Answer 1

Yes , it was a huge blunder.
A secret agreement between France , Britain and Israel was arranged so that Israel could attack Egypt and move towards the Suez canal. France and Britain would then invade on the pretext of stopping the Israelis and seize back the canal which had been nationliised by Nasser.
Unfortunately the whole thing fell apart when the Israelis failed to get anywhere near the canal, the invasion forces of the french and british met stiff resistance from the Egyptian army and the americans refused to help because they did not want the British and French to reassert their influence in the Middle East.
It ended in a humiliating defeat for the British and French and the resignation of the British prime minister.

Answer 2

Really, the Egyptians started the Crisis. When the Egyptian government nationalized it, they were taking property that belonged to the British and French. The Israelis got involved because they saw an Egyptian controlled Suez Canal as a threat to Israeli trade and national defense (as Egypt during this period, along with most of the Middle East, despised Israel). THe Russians sided with the Egyptians and US/Britain/France sided with Israel. It was a cold war showdown. It was the great nation of Canada which helped to resolve the crisis by placing UN forces in between the two sides creating a kind of buffer zone until tensions died down. It was an embarrassment to the US because Britain/France and Israel all acted prior to US involvement or acknowledgement of the act. It also happened to occur during the hungarian crisis where the USSR sent tanks into Hungary to crush a revolt. The US criticized the USSR for that but did not criticize their own allies doing the same thing in the Suez Canal. So, politically, it was embarrassing to the Eisenhower Administration. It also proved that that Arab world could stand up to the US, as ultimately the Suez Canal remained in the hands of Egypt and France, Britain, and Israel withdrew.


have a nice day.

Answer 3

At the time, Egypt was ruled by a dictator named Nasser. He threatened to cut off use of the Suez Canal to any nation that supported Israel. The British, French, and Israelis took control of the Canal until Nasser backed off. The USA [Eisenhower's administration] kept the British, French, and Israelis in check - they were allowed to take over the Canal while Nasser was shooting off his mouth and rattling his sabers, but once he grew up, the various nations withdrew.

Keep in mind that the Egyptian army was, by European standards, pathetic and incompetent. The Danes could have whipped Egypt. None of the European nations wanted Egypt at all. If any European nation really was being aggressive and imperialistic, they could have done so much more.

Answer 4

In respect to the British and French the answer is yes it was an act of French and British aggression and imperialism. As for Israeli, that is another matter altogether. The Israeli's are still not recognized as a country by Middle Eastern countries and they do not have an imperialist agenda, but a nationalist agenda so in terms of the Israeli's the Suez War of 1956 was also an act of Israeli aggression and nationalism. I do not take sides in the Middle East conflict instead preferring to seek some sort of diplomatic solution (i.e., abolishing the state of Israel, and re-creating an non-religious secular state in its place that includes both Jews, Muslims, Christians and other religions living side by side in peace).

Answer 5

1956 replaced into the top of the chilly conflict. Russia threatened to intrude on the edge of the Eygptians if Britain France and Israel did no longer withdraw, Fearing a significant escalation Eisenhower placed stress on France and Britain to withdraw which they did.

Answer 6

Cochise@O: Why do the Americans always try to claim credit for everything?
I believe it was the diplomacy of Lester B. Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada, that was chiefly responsible for the cease-fire and resolution of the situation. I believe he also received the Nobel Prize for Peace for it.

Answer 7

tThe Americans and Israelies tried to capture and cont rol the Canal while the Egyptians and the British tried to
avoid it The French who had built the Canal also sent troops to protect it .The U,N. STEPPED IN and
dlemanded a cease fire. Sir. Anthony Eden was forced to resign as P.M. Israel won the Sinai.