In 1956, Israel, in cooperation with Britain and France invaded the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. They were overly confident that they would not be stopped. “Then the roof fell in.” Eisenhower, the US President, was furious at Britain and France for having taken over the Suez Canal and supported UN demands that the two nations, along with Israel, withdraw unconditionally. Once the Soviet Union threatened to intervene, Britain and France withdrew in 27 days.
But Israel refused to go along. Ben-Gurion, the Prime Minister, wanted Gaza and wanted guaranteed access to the Red Sea, which Egypt had been denying. Eisenhower insisted that no nation could set conditions for its withdrawal.
Ben‐Gurion defied the world for weeks, ignoring six UN General Assembly orders to get out of Egypt. The Knesset backed him up. But when Eisenhower warned of “pressure” if Israel failed to withdraw, “the tough little Premier knew the game was up.”
Ben‐Gurion went before his Cabinet to propose conciliation but Knesset members insisted on defiance. Faced with this opposition, Ben-Gurion threatened to quit and form a new government. Finally, he won and Israel lost.
Here are the letters from Eisenhower to Ben-Gurion and from Ben-Gurion to Eisenhower.
November 7, 1956:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
As you know, the General Assembly of the United Nations has arranged a cease-fire in Egypt to which Egypt, France, the United Kingdom and Israel have agreed. There is being dispatched to Egypt a United Nations force in accordance with pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly. That body has urged that all other foreign forces be withdrawn from Egyptian territory, and specifically, that Israeli forces be withdrawn to the General Armistice line. The resolution covering the cease-fire and withdrawal was introduced by the United States and received the overwhelming vote of the Assembly.
Statements attributed to your Government to the effect that Israel does not intend to withdraw from Egyptian territory, as requested by the United Nations, have been called to my attention. I must say frankly, Mr. Prime Minister, that the United States views these reports, if true, with deep concern. Any such decision by the Government of Israel would seriously undermine the urgent efforts being made by the United Nations to restore peace in the Middle East, and could not but bring about the condemnation of Israel as a violator of the principles as well as the directives of the United Nations.
It is our belief that as a matter of highest priority peace should be restored and foreign troops, except for United Nations forces, withdrawn from Egypt, after which new and energetic steps should be undertaken within the framework of the United Nations to solve the basic problems which have given rise to the present difficulty. The United States has tabled in the General Assembly two resolutions designed to accomplish the latter purposes, and hopes that they will be acted upon favorably as soon as the present emergency has been dealt with.
I need not assure you of the deep interest which the United States has in your country, nor recall the various elements of our policy of support to Israel in so many ways. It is in this context that I urge you to comply with the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with the current crisis and to make your decision known immediately. It would be a matter of the greatest regret to all my countrymen if Israeli policy on a matter of such grave concern to the world should in any way impair the friendly cooperation between our two countries.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
(emphases added)
Prime Minister Ben-Gurion to President Eisenhower
November 8, 1956:
Dear Mr. President:
I have only this afternoon received your message which was delayed in transmission owing to a breakdown in communications between the Department of State and the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Your statement that a United Nations force is being dispatched to Egypt in accordance with pertinent Resolutions of the General Assembly is welcomed by us. We have never planned to annex the Sinai desert. In view of the United Nations Resolutions regarding the withdrawal of foreign troops from Egypt and the creation of the international force, we will, upon conclusion of satisfactory arrangements with the United Nations in connection with this international force entering the Suez Canal area, willingly withdraw our forces.
Although an important part of our aim has been achieved by the destruction, as a result of the Sinai operation, of fidayun gangs and of the bases from which they were planned and directed, we must repeat our urgent request to the United Nations to call upon Egypt, which has consistently maintained that it is in a state of war with Israel, to renounce this position, to abandon its policy of boycott and blockade, to cease the incursions into Israeli territory of murder gangs and, in accordance with its obligations under the United Nations Charter to live at peace with member-States, to enter into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
On behalf of my Government I wish to express to you our gratification at your reference to the deep interest of the United States in Israel and its policy of support for Our Country. I know these words of friendship stem from the depths of your heart and I wish to assure you that you will always find Israel ready to make its noble contribution at the side of the United States in its efforts to strengthen justice and peace in the world.
With best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
David Ben-Gurion
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In spite of the diplomatic tone of Eisenhower’s letter, the meaning was clear—Get Out!
That’s the message that Biden has thus far refused to send. The challenge is to force him to do something that he doesn’t want to do—either because he’s loyal to Israel, no matter how much death and destruction it inflicts in Gaza, or because he’s afraid of the political retribution he would face from the forces like AIPAC. It’s up to us!