The Sinai Campaign - Operation Kadesh
The Sinai Campaign, also called Operation Kadesh, was an Israeli military operation in the Sinai Peninsula launched on October 29, 1956, with the backing of Great Britain and France.
The tension between Israel and Egypt had increased over an arms deal signed in 1955 between Egypt and Communist Czechoslovakia, with intentions of building up the Egyptian arsenal for confrontation with Israel. Also, on August 1955 the Egyptians began to operate the "Fedayeen", small Palestinian terrorist units that carried out acts of murder and sabotage within Israel.
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| IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan visits Israeli troops during the Sinai Campaign |
The tension between Israel and Egypt had increased over an arms deal signed in 1955 between Egypt and Communist Czechoslovakia, with intentions of building up the Egyptian arsenal for confrontation with Israel. Also, on August 1955 the Egyptians began to operate the "Fedayeen", small Palestinian terrorist units that carried out acts of murder and sabotage within Israel.
On July 26, 1956, tensions had escalated further when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal and forbade Israeli ships from sailing through it. This act had effectively seized Israel's southern portal by imposing a blockade on its southern port in Eilat.
Israel turned to France, in proposal to join in a mutual operation with Britain to lift the blocked and to eliminate the Egyptian nationalization of the Suez Canal. Prior to the Egyptian act the canal was under a joint French-British ownership, after Egypt sold its holdings in it to Britain during the 1880's. An Israeli battle plan for the operation was adopted in early October 1956, but was now revised following Israel's secret agreement with Britain and France to embark on their joint alliance under "Operation Musketeer".
Israel turned to France, in proposal to join in a mutual operation with Britain to lift the blocked and to eliminate the Egyptian nationalization of the Suez Canal. Prior to the Egyptian act the canal was under a joint French-British ownership, after Egypt sold its holdings in it to Britain during the 1880's. An Israeli battle plan for the operation was adopted in early October 1956, but was now revised following Israel's secret agreement with Britain and France to embark on their joint alliance under "Operation Musketeer".
On late afternoon of October 29, Israeli units parachuted into the eastern approaches of Suez Canal. The action provided the pretext for a French and British ultimatum to Israel and Egypt, calling on both sides to cease hostilities and withdraw from the Canal area.
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| Photo by GPO: Israeli armored personnel carriers in the Sinai (1956) |
The United States subsequently joined the Soviet Union and with rare unity between them, the General Assembly of the United Nations called on November 2nd and November 7th for complete withdrawal of Israel to the 1948 Armistice lines, forcing Britain, France and Israel to withdraw.
In the aftermath of the war, although Israel had been compelled to withdraw from Sinai without any security guarantee, UNEF - the United Nations Emergency Force was established to guard against a recurrence of past events.
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