accepted the directive of the United Nations France claim that their armed intervention in
FROM 50 YEARS AGO
for cease-fire in Egypt with strong mental Egypt was aimed at stopping the fighting reservations. Egypt is entitled to her condition between Israel and Egypt. Military action by that all foreign forces must withdraw from Britain and France belies any such claim. Egyptian soil. Israel has gained all her major There has not been a single Anglo-French air objectives. Tel Aviv can have no interest in or military operation against the advancing any permanent occupation of the Sinai desert, Israeli troops. Anglo-French military actionVol VIII, No 45, November 10, 1956 though Israel may be reluctant to withdraw has been confined to, and concentrated on,
from the Gaza strip or lose control of the Gulf Egyptian military targets. Such military opera-Aggressors Must Withdraw of Aqaba. After the initial rejection of the UN tions against Egypt have been undertaken so (Editorial) proposal for an international force, Britain that Britain and France could attain their aim
and France have accepted cease-fire on the of seizing control of the Suez Canal. All this
Fighting in Egypt has ceased. This is an condition that the proposed international force naked aggression has been sought to be justiachievement for the United Nations. But much will be competent to enforce the aims of the fied on the ground that Britain and France more remains to be attained before the United United Nations. have taken quick action as the United Nations Nations can regain its prestige and authority. By their unprovoked aggression against are unable to act promptly. Sir Anthony has Israeli aggression against Egypt cannot be Egypt, Britain and France may have under-not only misjudged the whole situation. His condoned, though Tel Aviv will plead in mined the authority of the United Nations, but ulterior motives are evident from his earlier defence that it has acted under continuous these two great powers have lost considerable rejection of the UN proposal for an interprovocation. Britain and France can put for-prestige and international status. Not only Sir national force on the ground that it must have ward no such plea in defence of their naked Anthony Eden’s judgment, but his motives powers to ensure international control of the aggression in Egypt. All the belligerents have will be, and have been, impugned. Britain and Suez Canal.
Economic and Political Weekly November 11, 2006
