jul 26, 1956 - Suez Canal nationalised

Description:

Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, which was a surprise move. It meant that Egypt could now control what went through the canal. Nasser therefore closed the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships.

Britain and France were outraged that they could no longer have influence over trade through the canal. They considered the nationalisation illegal.

Britain:
- had lots of shares in the Suez Canal
- had retained control over the canal since they left Egypt in 1936
- had protected the Suez Canal in WWII

France:
- owned the majority shares in the Suez Canal Company, who had been running the canal
- had originally built the canal

British and French politicians met with the IDF leader and made a plan to invade Egypt under pretence of keeping the peace between Egypt and Israel. This was the plan for the Suez Crisis.

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