ABSTRACT
Three events of great signifi cance to the Gulf occurred in 1953 that were to have a lasting effect on the region. The fi rst was in June, when the monarchy in Egypt was abolished. This brought Gamal Abdel Nasser one step closer to the centre of power. A few months later he became prime minister, and then president. His leadership of the Arab world was to revive the importance of the Palestine problem, linking it with anti-colonialism, Arab nationalism, independence and modernisation.
