On the afternoon of October 29, 1856, Israeli forces launched a surprise attack into the Sinai peninsula, part of a coordinated plan with Britain and France for the European powers to retake possession of the Suez canal.  This episode covers the course of the war, as well as its legacy.  Topics covered include: the Cold War context and the run-up to war, British, French, Israeli and Egyptian strategic planning, global reactions, and the meaning of the war for Israelis, Palestinians and also Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Support the show

For more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.