*Significant amounts of money came from US Jews sympathetic to Zionist cause.
*US interests involved Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait. Determined to keep USSR influence out of ME the US joined the Baghdad Pact (guaranteed support if opposed by USSR). Way of containing USSR so US could buy of other nations (Iran, Iraq and Pakistan). US would support disctators no matter how corrupt as long as they remained in pact and supplied oil.
US policy complicated – Had alliances with some Israel enemies.
Opposed USSR influence with B but was
not associated with B imperialism.
*In 1955 B & US failed at attempt to negotiate I-E compromise.
*Eisenhower furious with B & F threatens to cut oil supplies and calls for ceasefire. On Nov 7th I withdraw from Sinai.
*Supplies weapons to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
*In 1967 Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban went to USA to seek support, US Secretary of Defence Dean Rusk said “I don’t think it’s in our business to restrain anyone.”
*Always concerned about security and access to Suez Canal.
Soviet Union
*Dependence of the US on this region made it vulnerable and a prized sphere of influence.
*Access to Suez Canal priority #1 for USSR (be E’s friend).
*Russia had traditional interests in the waterway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
*Took opportunity to allow USSR Jewish population to emigrate.
*Had historical connections with frontier Arab countries Turkey & Iran. Their strategic importance remained pivotal to the USSR
*However they were wary of Arab developments of Soviet Republics because their population was largely Muslim.
*USSR’s abundance of oil meant ME not important. The only exception seems to be in Stalin’s support of Israel.
*Stalin dies – new contact opened with E, and E signs arms agreement with Czech.
*Encouraged closer relations between Syrian communist party and socialist Ba’ath party.
*Nasser turns to USSR for support & assistance (financing Aswon Dam, signing an arms agreement).
*During Suez Crisis Nov 7th USSR threatened B & F with (bluff) rocket attacks and publicly questioned I’s right to exist. At time they were heavily involved in Hungarian Uprising.
*Afterwards USSR was regarded as the defenders of Egypt.
*In reaction to crisis USSR moves bombers from North to South of Egypt and to fly them out of war zone completely.
*Aimed to mobilize world opinion on Egypt’s behalf.
*Supplies weapons to Egypt, Syria & Iraq.
* May 1967, warned Syria that Israel was planning to invade.
Both
*Middle East’s strategic position and oil producing capacity meant it could not escape realities of Cold War, and that it would inevitably reach the Middle East.
*Lobbed in UN for Jewish state.
*Suez Crisis broke out 1956, superpowers not directly involved, this was to be short-lived as early as 31 Oct 1956 and they presented resolutions to the Security Council, calling on I to recall from the Sinai. Both worked to stop fighting.
Europe
*Britain and France had significant interests in ME. Preserving their interests often brought them in conflict with local Arab populations.
*British interests were threefold – strategy, oil, and prestige.
*However the strains and devastation of WWII, and the growing public pressure sort to hand the issue of the ME to the UN.
*Britain opposed Jewish migration.
*In 1967 Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban toured France and Britain to seek support. F believed Arabs were bluffing & B said they could not help without support of the USA.
