Britain, Israel and the United States, 1955-1958: Beyond Suez

This volume examines the Anglo-Israeli relationship from early 1956 to the summer of 1958, against the wider background of the Cold War, rivalry of the superpowers and the upheavals in the Middle East. During this period the Anglo-Israeli relationship went through two major phases. The first one, from early 1956 to early 1957, was marked by growing tension in the Middle East when relations between Britain and Israel were at best cool and at times hostile. The second phase, from March 1957 to the summer/autumn of 1958, was characterized by the growing instability of pro-western states in the region and by an eventual breakthrough in Anglo-Israeli relations. Anglo-Israeli relations were overshadowed by Britain's interest in the Middle East, which were essentially to keep oil supply routes and communication with the Indian Ocean open. It was only the Iraqi coup d'etat in 1958 and the collapse of the Baghdad Pact, which paved the way for the change in Anglo-Israeli relations. This dramatic set of events, coupled with Israel's willingness to co-operate with the US and the British military rescue operation in Jordan, led to a less antagonistic and distrustful relationship resulting in a definite change in Whitehall's attitudes. This study aims to demonstrate that as far as Anglo-Israeli relations were concerned it was the upheavals after the Suez war and primarily the crisis during the summer of 1958 that led to an enhanced understanding between Britain and Israel.