ABSTRACT

All wars have both public and secret aspects and there is usually at least some debate over their justification. Controversy has persisted over the Suez-Sinai conflict since it was a war initiated by a surprise attack that was a product of ‘collusion’. Certainly British and French leaders have been subjected to continuing criticism over both the wisdom and justification of their actions and the failure to carry them out to successful conclusion. Ben-Gurion was undoubtedly the central figure responsible for shaping Israeli policy, and any analysis of Israel’s role in the conflict must focus on his motivations, decisions and behaviour.1