Class 11: The Issue of Regional Security: Recalling the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1949-56

Regional Security

• 1948 states at war: Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Iraq. (see map of entire region - near Russia and ex USSR!)
• 1991 Madrid Conference regional tracks: security, refugees, water, economic development, environment.

Historical Background of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

• peace > armistice > truce > ceasefire
• Lausanne Conference 1949
• Jordanian take-over of West Bank and East Jerusalem
• refugees - over 700,000 displaced Palestinians (over half to WB and Gaza, the rest mostly to East Bank, Lebanon, Syria) - and some 600,000 Jews from Arab countries, mainly Iraq and Yemen
• the problem of "infiltration" across new borders: Ben Gurion's doctrine of massive retaliation.
• Jordan: Qibya raid October 1953 and Ben Gurion retires
• Gaza: Ben Gurion back 17 Feb 1955 and Gaza attack 28 February escalates Israeli-Egyptain tensions.
• 1967 refugees from the West Bank

Arab-Israeli, Intra-Arab Conflicts, and the Cold War

• Egypt/Saudi vs Iraq/Jordan - Syria?
• Egypt's Gamal Abdul Nasser 1952-1970
• Anglo-Egyptian relations and the Lavon Affair 1954
• Nasser's military and police base: the significance of the Gaza attack.
• 24 Feb 1955 Baghdad Pact signed (Iraq, UK etc)
• Nasser's search for arms - Tripartite Declaration of 1950 excludes USA., UK, and France, but USSR post Stalin New Look and support for Nasser and the other Non-Aligned powers (India, Indonesia etc.)
• Czech arms deal of July 1955 and first blockade of Straits of Tiran
• The United States' Alpha Plan - rejected by Egypt as well as Israel
• Aswan High Dam rejected by US, UK, World Bank.
• July 26, 1956: Nasser nationalizes Suez Canal
• France's Algeria problem: Front of National Liberation (FLN) Revolution of Nov. 1, 1954

Suez War of 1956 (video here): Israel, Britain, France ("tripartitie aggression") vs Egypt

• Oct. 29, 1956 Israeli attack
• Oct. 30 Anglo-French Ultimatum
• Oct. 31 Anglo-French destruction of Egyptian air force
• UN ceasefire resolution of Nov 2 rejected by Israel
• Israeli Sinai campaign ends Nov 4
• Anglo-French paratroopers arrive Port Said Nov 5!
• ...and withdrawals - completed by March 1957 in return for UN Emergency Force posted to Gaza and Sharm el-Sheikh (next to Strait of Tiran).

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1 Oct. 2008

Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin.

Questions, Comments, and Suggestions to chenry@mail.utexas.edu