Gamal Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970) was the second President of Egypt, serving from 1956 until his death in 1970. He was a prominent figure in Arab nationalism and a key leader in the non-aligned movement during the Cold War.¹

Rise to Power and Pan-Arab Vision

Nasser emerged as premier in 1954 after the overthrow of King Farouk in 1952. His ambitious talk of Pan-Arabism rattled the Israelis, who instinctively turned to the United States for support in response to this growing regional challenge.²

Shift Toward Soviet Alliance

The trajectory of Nasser's foreign policy took a decisive turn following escalating tensions with Israel. After the Israeli attack on an Egyptian military camp at Gaza in February 1955, Nasser responded by turning to the Communist world for military aid. His efforts to secure alternative sources of support proved fruitful when he received a promise from Chou En-lai, the Chinese premier, for arms at the Bandung Conference of African and Asian nations in April 1955.²

This initial outreach to the Communist bloc soon expanded dramatically. In July 1955, Soviet delegations arrived in Cairo to offer military aid, and by September, Nasser announced that Egypt would receive a staggering total of 200 modern Soviet bombers, 230 tanks, 200 troop carriers, and over 500 artillery pieces, along with Soviet advisers. This massive arms deal fundamentally altered the military balance in the Middle East.²

The Suez Crisis

Building on his growing confidence and Soviet backing, Nasser made his most audacious move in July 1956 when he nationalized the Suez Canal. This bold action brought the British government into secret planning for war with Israel and France, setting the stage for the 1956 Suez Crisis that would define his presidency and cement his status as a leader of the developing world.²

American Intelligence Connections

Throughout these tumultuous events, Nasser maintained complex relationships with Western intelligence figures. Miles Copeland, a retired CIA officer, was a good friend of Nasser. Copeland was believed by Israeli intelligence to be responsible for U.S. pressure on Israel, Britain, and France to withdraw from the Suez Canal area in 1956, and for pushing Israelis to withdraw from the Sinai.²

Death and Unusual Predictions

Nasser's political career came to an abrupt end when he purportedly collapsed with a stroke while giving a speech, leading to his death on September 28, 1970.² Remarkably, Nasser's death was notably predicted by Israeli psychic Uri Geller during a telepathy demonstration in Tel Aviv. Geller, who became physically ill during the performance, proclaimed that Nasser "had just died or is about to die." Twenty minutes later, Radio Cairo announced Nasser's death from a heart attack.¹

This extraordinary event significantly boosted Geller's reputation in Israel, with Prime Minister Golda Meir reportedly quipping, "Don't ask me... Ask Uri Geller" when asked about Israel's future. Nasser's successor was Anwar Sadat, who would chart a dramatically different course for Egyptian foreign policy.¹²