JJRiggins

​ The Sinai Crisis The [|Sinai War] took place in Egypt in 1956. ====France, Israel, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Gamal Abdel Nasser (President of Egypt), Dwight D Eisenhower (US President), British and French troops and the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) were involved. The conflict began because Gamal Abdel Nassar wanted to force withdrawal of all British troops from Egypt also including the Suez Canal. President Eisenhower seen Egypt as potential trade partners and decided not to get involved in the feud amongst the nations. Eventually he became distraught when Nasser started to adopt a number of new policies that conflicted with the American policies. In May, 1956 Nasser extended diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of China. The US became dissatisfied retaliated to Nasser's actions. The US retaliated by withdrawing its offer to finance the construction of the Aswan Dam. Great Britain and the World Bank followed suit and did the same. Nasser then placed the Suez Canal under Egyptian control. His main goal was to use the tolls collected form ships using the canal to help build the Dam. Numerous nations became very angry and wanted to place the Suez Canal under international control. Egypt and the Soviet Union rejected the idea of international control of the canal and Egypt remained in control of the Canal. This was a very serious conflict but fortunately there was bloodshed but there wasn't over 20,000 casualities. This war could've easily led to an international war; world war 3; but it only lasted for six days.After truths were called some nations walked away with great achievements while others' walked away from the Sinai war with lost misfortunes. The Soviet Union gained greater support all throughout the Middle East because its' "unconditional" support for "Nasser's Egypt." Egypt gained a victory and this enabled him to become the unchallenged leader of the Arab world! He became a threat to those Arab nations that were allied with the West. He mainly focused on the Arab nations that were members of the [|Baghdad Pact]. Nassar signed a treaty with the new Iraqi government and he also supported a coup that overthrew the pro-Western government. British and France unfortunately lost their dominance in the Middle East. In an effort to keep peace amongst all nations UNEF was created. UNEF stands for [|United Nations Emergency Force.] In an effort to keep peace and end the war Egypt agreed to have UNEF the peacekeeping force remain at the borders to prevent Palestine guerilla's from crossing the border. Egypt also agreed to reopen the Suez Canal.====

[[image:gnasser.jpg caption="President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nassar"]]


Sources -Ciment, James. Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since WWII. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2007. -Selcher, Wayne. "The WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resource". April 15, 2010 <[]>. -Lee, Roger. "The History Guy:Arab-Israeli Wars:Suez War (1956)". April 13, 2010 <[]>.