Alexandria shouting, in English, "Evacuation!" The Egyptian Revolution broke out after a series of such demonstrations all over Egypt, at the height of the Egyptian campaign against the British military bases, had undermined the Royal government in Egypt.) Abd-el-Nasser was soon well on his way toward achieving British evacuation by peaceful means; the Conservative government in Britain, with some American prodding, was on the verge of concluding an agreement with the new Egyptian government providing for withdrawal.

This prospect was viewed by the Israeli government and Army with growing misgivings. If the British left, it was felt, the Canal forever would be closed to Israeli shipping (as, indeed, it had been since the first day of the State). Egypt might be tempted to become more aggressive. Worse, the British bases were stocked with immense quantities of weapons and other military equipment, which might well fall into the hands of the Egyptians, thereby upsetting the balance of military power between Egypt and Israel.

Another disquieting thing was happening. The United States, Israel's most important ally, started to become friendly with the new Egyptian regime; the new regime, looking eminently anti-Communist, put the leaders of the three small Communist parties in prison, gladdening the heart of John Foster Dulles. A rising young star in the U.S. State Department, Henry Byroade, the Assistant Secretary for Middle Eastern Affairs, even said on July 20, 1953, that arming the Arabs was more important than arming Israel. All this was going too far. Something, obviously, had to be done before the British made a deal with the Egyptians over the bases and before the Americans became too friendly with the wrong people.

The government did not agree with Ben-Gurion on what to do, but it was entirely in agreement with him in evaluating the situation. Indeed, no one in an official position in Israel could disagree with this evaluation, based,

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