---
born: 1897-06-12
category: Intelligence & Government
died: 1977-01-14
location: Windlestone Hall, County Durham, England
summary: Anthony Eden was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1957.
tags:
- Person
- Israel
- Soviet
---

Anthony Eden was the Prime Minister of the [United Kingdom](/places/united-kingdom/) from 1955 to 1957. He was involved in the secret planning for the [Suez Crisis](/events/suez-crisis/) in 1956, alongside [Israel](/places/israel/) and [France](/places/france/). The battle plan called for [Israel](/places/israel/) to initiate the attack, followed by demands from [France](/places/france/) and Britain for a halt to hostilities and withdrawal from the [Suez Canal](/places/suez-canal/). When [Egypt](/places/egypt/) refused, [France](/places/france/) and England would launch assaults to occupy the canal.[^1]

Eden, however, became anxious by the fast pace of the Israeli Army and the [United Nations](/organizations/united-nations/) ceasefire call. He was the first to break ranks and ordered his troops to cease firing after the [Soviet Union](/places/soviet-union/) issued what was perceived in [Israel](/places/israel/) to be a nuclear ultimatum. This decision, made under extreme pressure from the [Eisenhower](/people/dwight-d-eisenhower/) administration and the opposition Labor Party at home, led to Britain's withdrawal from the conflict.[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3.