The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse

(Hardback)

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The 1956 Suez War, fought between Egypt and the improbable coalition of Britain, France, and Israel, was a key point in the history of the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli conflict. A blitzkrieg-style Israeli victory proved that Israel's victory in the 1948 war was not an accident to be swiftly fixed by Arab armies, and gave the country eleven years of relative peace until the next major conflict. An Anglo-French blunder marked the decline of British and French influence in the Middle East, to be replaced by Soviet and US involvement. Egyptian defiance of the great powers of the past marked the high point of Arab nationalism. Despite the importance of the Suez conflict, almost no comprehensive military history of it exists. This book changes this by presenting a clear, comprehensive narrative of the conflict with a special emphasis on the military decisions and the short- and long-term results of the conflict, both tactical and strategic, military and political.

Reviews

Yagil Henkindescribes and analyzes the Suez War in all of its complexity in this thoughtful and revealing account. In view of the quite extensive body of research already devoted to the origins, course, and consequences of the war, one might be tempted to think that nothing new remains to be said about it. Henkins book, however, offers a fresh reconsideration of the war. Through the judicious mining and synthesizing of information collected from a broad range of primary and secondary sources, he sheds new light on various dimensions of the war, especially with regard to the IDFs actions during Operation Kadesh. A brief review, of course, cannot do justice to the richness of Henkins book. Suffice it to say that with respect to substance, his work is first rate. * Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs *
The author of this book has written a very readable and thorough narrative. . . . Henkin is at his best describing the military moves during the conflict, but he is at ease unraveling the tangled web of multilateral interests and actions. . . Ultimately, the author does a nice job of outlining the overall lack of Israeli readiness for war and demonstrates well how the Western powers brought Israel into the conflict. Henkin's book is a good regional military and diplomatic history that properly situates the conflict and helps dispel some long-held misconceptions about the Arab-Israeli crisis. * Historian *
Despite the importance of the Suez conflict, no comprehensive military history study of this magnitude has ever been published. This book contributes a methodical military review, along with a thorough description of the battles, wrapped in a description of an additional extensive layer of the various diplomatic and political circles. The book describes the diplomatic thinking and the military execution of each of the participating parties Egypt, Israel, France and Britain, and even the USSR and the USA. The book does not confine itself to a description of the war but delves into its results in the diplomatic layers as well as in the military strategic and even tactical layers. * Israel Book Review *
A real gem. The most recent, as well as much the best, history of the 1956 Suez Campaign ever written. -- Martin van Creveld, Hebrew University
The story of the Suez War has been told many times, by the principals and by historians. But Yagil Henkins account stands out. He has finally given the military moves their full due alongside the more famous diplomatic maneuvering. But this is not only military history. Henkin presents events from every possible vantage pointIsraeli, British, French, Egyptian, and Americanand he integrates this into a seamless narrative, distinguished by its easy readability. No serious shelf on the 1956 war, however full, can do without Yagil Henkins indispensable work. -- Martin Kramer, President, Shalem College

Author Bio

Yagil Henkin is a military historian at the Israeli Army's Command and General Staff College.