scheming dictator, the reincarnation of Hitler, as
he was seen at the time by some in Britain and
France. In contrast to leaders elsewhere in the
Middle East in his time and later, in Syria, Iran
and Iraq, he was not a tyrant, killing thousands
of opponents. Nor, unlike his royal predecessors,
was he corrupt. He genuinely wanted to raise the
standard of living of the Egyptian masses, but his
state socialism and police security brought only
order, without prosperity. He was defeated in his
aims by population growth and by the costly wars
he fought against Israel and in the Yemen. He
fought to restore Arab pride and, despite his
defeat, was paradoxically triumphant in achieving460 THE ENDING OF EUROPEAN DOMINANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1919–80
BeirutDamascusHaifaTel AvivGAZA STRIPSuezGaza
Port SaidCYPRUSM ED IT
E
R
RANEANSEA
LEBANONJORDANISRAELSYRIASINAIEilatJerusalemThe whole of Sinai was returned
to Egypt by April 1982
occupied by Israel in 19670 20 40 60 miles