Israel’s Freedom of Passage in the Suez Canal, 1957–1967

Abstract Following the Suez War, Israel demanded freedom of passage through Canal. By July 1957, a tacit understanding was reached in which Egypt acquiesced to Israeli goods on foreign ships. Nevertheless, March 1959, Egyptians suddenly breached agreement. The UNSG subsequently formulated new arrangement: “effective stand.” refused “play game” while refrained from military response, recognizing that such response could endanger two countries’ only shared interest: an aversion war.