Egyptian-Czech Arms Deal Announced

Smarting under decades of British imperial rule in Egypt, President Nasser parts ways with the Western super-power. The arms deal between Egypt and the Czechs foreshadows deeper Soviet military support for Egypt over the next two decades and shows Israel that Soviet arms are to become a definitive threat to Israeli security. In July 1956, Nasser will further anger Britain by nationalizing the Suez Canal, the symbol of seventy years of British presence in Egypt. Israel reacts by bolstering its arms supply from France and reaching out to the US for future arms support.