ABSTRACT
Israel made significant progress in both domestic and foreign affairs after 1956. There were many changes in the Arab world after 1956, owing partly to the rise in Nasser's stature as the leader of pan-Arab nationalism and symbol of resistance to "colonialism, imperialism, and Zionism." The Aqaba outlet was of greater importance to Israel than the Suez Canal, however, and the Israeli seaport of Eilat soon grew from a sleepy little town to a bustling, busy city. The United States had unsuccessfully proposed a joint irrigation scheme to Israel and the Arabs, based on sharing the Jordan River waters. Israelis maintain that the Arabs were again unwilling to cooperate in any venture that would imply recognition of the Jewish state. Interestingly, the relationship with France, Israel's staunchest ally during and immediately after Suez, slowly began to change. The appeal of Arab nationalism, whether promoted by Nasser or by the ideology of the Arab Renaissance, or Baath, party, became almost irresistible.
