To anyone who is familiar with Dr. Yagil Henkin’s work it is no surprise that his latest offering is meticulously researched and well written. “The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse” is the first in-depth examination of the war from all sides, with particular emphasis on Egypt and Israel. As such it is an important addition to the literature on the war and on Middle Eastern politics generally.
It also, as Dr. Henkin points out, rips away much of the myth of Israeli invincibility, but with the result that the reader cannot help but come away with an increased respect for the IDF of the period and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Also explored are the actions of the Soviets and how they impacted the conflict.
The book reads with the smoothness of a novel and with a sense of excitement and passion. But Dr, Henkin is careful to note where he is offering his own opinion, allowing the reader to form his own conclusions. He also refuses to present opinion as fact, much to his credit. His analysis makes this book a must read for anyone interested in the Middle East or military history.
The book covers the period leading up to Egypt’s Gamal Nasser’s seizure of the Suez Canal, in part because the United States withdrew its financial support for the Aswan Dam project, and probes other background issues generally ignored or glossed over. He recites how Britain and France decided to seize the canal, invade Egypt and topple the Nasser government. In the last of several scenarios considered by the Allies, France convinced Israel to invade Egypt, giving the allies a pretext to “intervene” as peace keepers. Dr. Henkin shows the pretext failed to deceive just about anyone. The myth that Israel was duped into invading Egypt is dispelled.
Though unprepared for a major military action, the Israeli leadership seized the opportunity to strike Egypt and depose a dictator who was a thorn in Israel’s side, but was then held in limbo by Allied indecision and unnecessary secrecy. He illuminates why the political goals changed and how those changes impacted frontline commanders.
Some of the most important documents on the war are written in either Hebrew or Egyptian and consequently unavailable to most western historians, so Dr. Henkin’s use of these primary sources is unique and makes the book an invaluable addition to the study of this period in the Middle East. It is hoped Dr. Henkin will continue to translate and interpret these documents in the future.
With stories of individual participants on all sides, Dr. Henkin reminds the reader that wars are fought by people of flesh and blood, not faceless pawns moving about a sterile chess board.
The Suez War is woefully ignored in both academic and military circles. Dr. Henkin’s book should be mandatory reading for military officers, future officers, students and any politician who needs to understand today’s Middle East and its complicated web of competing interests.
You would expect the Staff Historian of the Israeli Army’s Command and General Staff College to whitewash Israel’s actions, but you’d be mistaken. While clearly a patriot, Dr. Henkin takes a hard, critical look at what Israeli forces did well and what they didn’t. The role of reserve Israeli units is touched on, along with some of their failures through a lack of training and preparedness.
The text is a clear lesson to politicians who would reduce combat capability to save money, both by the Israelis, as well as France and Britain. The Allied failure to be prepared nearly crippled their ability to respond militarily and the delays in mounting an expedition allowed popular support to deteriorate to unacceptable levels. The nearly year-long delay also negated the argument that Egypt could not manage the canal without Western help.
Off the battlefield the political war waged was at least as important as the actions of the frontline troops. Dr. Henkin untangles the web of competing interests and uses the war to warn against dabbling in the affairs of other countries without adequate understanding and knowledge. America’s political backroom maneuvering reveals the United States as the new bully in the international neighborhood. Dr. Henkin demonstrates how President Eisenhower failed to recognize the bias against Israel by members of his administration.
There are some things either ignored or only lightly treated. The book only touches on the problems Britain encountered when bringing troop transports out of mothballs and the challenges created by calling up reservists, including World War II veterans, to man the ships. But Dr. Henkin does go into how the delays adversely impacted reservists.
Perhaps the most important aspect Dr. Henkin explores is the fallout from the war and how its outcome impacts the Middle East to his day. Not only was Nasser not removed from power, but after the war his popularity and influence in other Arab nations was greatly enhanced. Israel perhaps gained the most by the creation of the myth of IDF invincibility and should be challenged at an aggressor’s peril. But the way the war ended also made future military conflict inevitable.
“The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse” is a must read for anyone interested in military history or international politics. It should be on the mandatory reading list for military officers and military academies should use it as a text in any one of several classes.
Taken as a whole the book deserves a five star rating.
James Craig, JD
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Customer reviews
4.6 out of 5
We don’t use a simple average to calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star. Our system gives more weight to certain factors—including how recent the review is and if the reviewer bought it on Amazon. Learn more
4 global ratings
