Role of external powers in the development of the conflict

Question 1

Conflicting economic interests with the superpowers led to ST outbreak of war

Answer 1

Pre-history British
British desire to protect its interests and secure access to the Suez Canal during WW1 led it to promise future Arab independence through the Hussein-McMahon

1953 France
France started selling French weapons to Israel in 1953 as the starting military served as a good market for defence goods, including the Mirage – Israel’s most advanced aircraft to date and their first cutting edge combat aircraft → gave Israel more confidence in its military might, enabling it to engage in more daringly hostile acts

1956 Suez Crisis
UK had seen a waning influence in the region with their share of oil production falling from 49% to 14% since 1945
Nationalising the suez would only lead to further revenue cuts
France depended on the Suez as an inexpensive shipping route for its economy, nationalising would prove to be a huge economic obstacle

Question 2

Direct superpower intervention in the conflict emboldened the belligerent states which led to the catalysing and renewal of conflicts at times

Answer 2

Suez Crisis
The Soviets provided Egypt with 100 self propelled guns and 300 tanks and 200 jets in 1955, subsequently, the French provided 100 thanks and 12 jets

Naksa
In response to soviet arm sales to left leaning arabic states, in 1965, Johnson agreed to sell Israel tanks M48A3 and Skyhawk aircraft in 1966

Yom Kippur
A massive airlift of military equipment from the US helped the Israelis to launch a successful counterattack against the Syrians + Was only able to be started because of Soviet aid to the Egyptians in the first place (expulsion of 15k advisors to speed up shipments)

Question 3

Superpowers contributed to de-escalation of the conflict in the ST as they reduced the military capacity on both side to prevent a prolonged war

Answer 3

1948 Nakba
US and USSR rushed to recognise Israel and cut off arms supply to both sides to stop the fighting
UK did not send aid to the Arabs despite favouring them due to dependence on US for aid post ww2

→ limited the militarisation on both sides and de-escalated the conflict through the non-provision of arms

Question 4

Role of the US in diffusing tensions by providing direct economic threats in the ST

Answer 4

• 1956 Eisenhower election campaign on peace platform compelling the incumbent president to intervene to halt aggression
  -US pressured Israel to stop, refused to support this war and applied economic sanctions and threatening to sever relations
  -US threatened to sell British pound in its reserves and precipitate a collapse of the British currency (in the backdrop of the recovering global economy this would be quite catastrophic in the absence of the GDC)
  -Sponsored a resolution 997 for immediate ceasefire

Question 5

Role of the superpowers diplomatic efforts in ensuring a definitive end to hostilities in the LT

Answer 5

Kissinger Shuttle Diplomacy
Peace achieved at the Camp David accords which had its foundations set in Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy. It ended hostilities, normalised diplomatic relations and paved the way for cooperation
Led to the withdrawal of Israel from the Sinai peninsula to ensure Egyptian sovereignty is respected
Arab countries recognised Israel for the first time since its founding
Created the framework for Palestinian Autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza and for potential future self-governance