ABSTRACT
A marathon debate took place inside the British Cabinet on whether Britain should retain her bases in the Middle East. The 'mobile concept' and the 'Levant–Iraq' strategy provided a veil to cover Britain's withdrawal from the Middle East. Israel was allotted an important role in Allied contingency planning for the Middle East. British cynicism towards Israel matched that which she displayed toward Egypt. Britain expected Israel to focus on the building up of its air forces, in order to serve better Allied strategic interests in the Middle East. Part of the explanation for British behaviour lies in the conviction of some officials that Israel was so desperately dependent upon the West for both economic and military aid that she would tamely accept any terms on offer. British policy in the Middle East derived from an overweening, paternalistic, imperialist attitude adopted towards the indigenous populations of her colonies.
