Nasser Gamal Abdul
January 15, 1918-September 28, 1970
Egyptian Revolutionist
by Rit Nosotro First Published:: 2003( )
Nasser Gamal Abdul was born in Alexandria, Egypt as the son of a postal official. He was active in Egyptian groups against domination of foreign countries, after graduating from the Egyptian Military Acadamy. Nasser fought against Israel in the 1948 war, and was evidently trapped in the “feluja pocket” along with his comrads. Once a cease fire was reached by both opposing sides Nasser and his men were allowed to return to their homes in Egypt.
The military coup against King Faruk I of Egypt was led by Gamal Abdul Nasser in 1952. Two years after the military coup led by Mr. Nasser he arrested the leader of Egypt, General Muhammad Naguib. At the next Presidential election two years later Gamal Abdul Nasser was the only person on the ballot so he therefore won the election. Not long after being elected Nasser made an agreement with the British and they left Egypt thus ending their 72 year presence in that country. Nasser also revised the constitution so that the president had more power than ever.
The political system that Nasser was administering was called Arab socialism. Arab socialism was a necessary consequence of the quest for Arab unity and freedom, as only a socialist system of property and development would overcome the social and economic legacy of colonialism. Nasser and other Egyptian leaders believed that this political system would truly work. He confiscated over 3000 square miles of land from a group of rather affluent land owners. Nasser then nationalized all of the banks. In 1956 the USA and Great Britian retracted a deal that promised funds for the building of the Aswan Dam. Nasser then took over the Suez Canal and planned on using the toll money from the canal to pay for the construction of the Aswan Dam.
When the Israelis heard of this they responded by invading the Sinai Peninsula. Under extreme pressure by the U.N. the Israeli forces in the Sinai Peninsula region withdrew. Since Israel had to withdraw their forces Egypt was able to retain full ownership of the Suez Canal. Since they had the canal in their ownership Egypt was keeping all of the toll money and putting it towards the construction of the Aswan Dam. Roughly fourteen years later the Dam was finished. Nasser was credited with the construction of the dam and the Arab world hailed him as a hero.
In 1958 Egypt and Syria united and formed the “United Arab Republic” with Nasser as the head of course. At the time, many people thought this was the first step towards Arab oneness. The United Arab Republic broke up in 1961 after Syria experienced a coup. Even though Syria was no longer part of the United Arab Republic Nassser decided to keep the name even though it meant Egypt was the only country left in the “republic”.
When in 1967 Nasser expatriated the U.N. peace keeping forces that were located in the Gaza Strip and barricaded the Gulf of Aqaba thus putting a halt to all traffic on Israel’s Port Eilat many people thought he was out looking for a fight. Israel was no longer going to take bullying from Nasser and his crew. On June 5th Israel attacked Egypt so strongly that Egypt was pretty much defeated the first day. Somehow Egypt did manage to hold out for five more days and they then closed the Suez Canal, as their last resort.
Nasser was so well beaten by Israeli forces that he offered to resign, but the people paraded in honor of him in such large crowds that he stayed in office and also accepted the position of prime minister. For some reason after the war with Israel in 1967, Egypt was dependant upon the Soviet Union for military protection and economic assistance.
On September 28, 1970, Nasser died of a heart attack while still fulfilling the duty of prime minister of Egypt.
I feel that during the rule of Nasser Gamal Abdul that the spread of Christianity was neither more or less than before he was in power. I also feel that Nasser being in power helped to bring the Jews together as a people. I feel this way because they were in one war with Egypt and almost a second, and wars usually tend to unite a people.
Endnotes:
www.wikipedia.com ”Nasser Gamul Abdul” World History 17-Dec-04
www.famousmuslims.com “Nasser Gamul Abdul” World History 17-Dec-04
