Israel releases Ben-Gurion archives on 1956 Sinai operation

Israel’s military and defense archives have published a digital collection marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Sinai Campaign. The release coincides with the commemoration of Operation Kadesh, a conflict also known internationally as the Suez Crisis. The materials offer a look into the internal deliberations of the state’s leadership during that pivotal period.

The central focus of the new release is a series of statements by David Ben-Gurion, who served as both prime minister and defense minister. In a cabinet meeting held on October 28, 1956, Ben-Gurion expressed frustration with the strategic position of the Gaza Strip. He described the territory as an embarrassing objective that stood in Israel's way. Ben-Gurion stated that if he believed in miracles, he would wish the strip would sink into the sea.

He reiterated these sentiments in April 1957, after the Israel Defense Forces withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip. At a conference of senior officers, Ben-Gurion argued that maintaining Israeli control in Gaza was a problem under any administration. He concluded that Israel's capacity to suppress terror in the region was limited, and that Egyptian rule, while undesirable, was preferable to the strain of Israeli presence.

Ben-Gurion also cautioned his commanders against assuming the limited casualties of the 1956 campaign would define future conflicts. He warned that subsequent wars would likely involve bombing of Tel Aviv and Haifa, resulting in the deaths of women and children rather than just combatants. He urged military leaders not to draw analogies between the success of Operation Kadesh and the next war.

Among the released papers is a handwritten account by Shimon Peres, who was the director-general of the Defense Ministry at the time. Peres noted that Ben-Gurion viewed the war as a temporary measure rather than a final solution to Arab-Israeli relations. Peres recorded that Ben-Gurion believed an Arab victory could be final, whereas an Israeli victory was not necessarily the end of the conflict.

The archive also includes documents related to Operation Honio, a rescue mission in November 1956 that brought 65 Jews from Port Said, Egypt, to Israel. Lt. Col. Aryeh Eliav, who led the team, wrote in a report to the head of Military Intelligence that his role was to rescue Jews and bring them to Israel. Other files detail air force activities, including a plan to attack Egyptian airfields that was never executed and records of an accidental strike on Israeli troops.

The Defense Establishment Archive has uploaded the materials to a dedicated website for the anniversary. The site features more than 4,500 photographs, documents, and maps, many of which were not previously available to the public. It also includes biographical information on 149 commanders who joined the IDF during the War of Independence and later formed part of its founding leadership.