Suez

In July 1956, Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, expelling British oil and embassy officials after London withdrew its pledge of financial support for the Aswan Dam project. Nasser's action set in motion an historic chain of events: Israel invaded Egyptian territory (the Sinai Campaign); Great Britain and France sent armed forces to retake the canal; intervention by the U.N. brought about an armistice, and a U.N. emergency contingent replaced the British and French troops. Working from new documentary sources, Kyle's comprehensive and authoritative history of the Suez crisis deepens our understanding of the decisive American role in the U.N.'s involvement. The study also reveals more clearly how it was that Nasser emerged from the crisis with greater prestige in the Arab world: he withstood the ``triple aggression'' of Israel and the two imperial powers, broke the spirit of colonialism and rekindled the dream of Arab unity. Kyle is a research fellow with Britain's Royal Institute of International Affairs. Illustrations. (July)