Nasser+and+Pan-Arabism

In **Egypt**, a new leader arose who would play an important role in the Arab world. Colonel Gamal Abdel **Nasser** took control of the Egyptian government in the early 1950s. Nasser seized the **Suez** **Canal** Company in 1956 which had been under British and French control.

Concerned over this threat to the route to the Indian Ocean, Great Britain and France decided to act. They struck back and Israel joined in the fight. The forces of the three nations launched an attack on Egypt and the Suez War of 1956 began. The US and the Soviet Union supported Nasser and forced Britain, France and Israel to withdraw their troops from Egypt.

**Nasser** emerged from the conflict as a powerful leader. He began to promote **Pan-Arabism, or Arab unity**. In 1958, Egypt formally united with Syria to for the UAR, United Arab Republic. Nasser became the first president of Egypt. They hoped that the union would eventually include all the Arab states. But other Arab leaders were suspicious of Pan-Arabism. The oil-rich Arab states were concerned they would have to share revenues with poorer states in the Middle East. And according to Nasser, Arab unity meant that wealth from oil could be used to improve the standard of living throughout all of the Middle East.

In 1961, military leaders took over Syria and withdrew the country from its union with Egypt. Nasser continued to work on behalf of Arab interests.