ABSTRACT
The continuing escalation along the Suez Canal, the direct Soviet involvement in the conflict, and the fear that the Middle East might emulate the Balkans before the First World War stimulated Rogers to draft a proposal for an immediate cease-fire that would last 90 days, in the hope that it might then be possible to make progress on a diplomatic avenue towards an accord, in conjunction with the United Nations. This chapter focuses on the American idea that the main thing was to stop shooting and start talking, including the two parties’ positions and considerations related to the proposed cease-fire. It details how once again the American administration created a link between a cease-fire and Israeli requests for advanced weaponry (mainly warplanes). Ultimately it was only after Israel received security guarantees and promises that the planes would be supplied did it agree to accept the conditions of the cease-fire, even though it was aware that Egypt was liable to exploit the situation in order to beef up its military deployment west of the canal.
