In the summer of 1954, Israel launched a daring covert operation known as Operation Susannah, also called the Lavon Affair. A network of Egyptian Jews recruited by Israeli military intelligence planted bombs in American, British, and Egyptian civilian targets in Cairo and Alexandria, including cinemas, libraries, and post offices. The goal was a classic false flag: blame the attacks on Egyptian nationalists, the Muslim Brotherhood, or communists to undermine Egypt’s relations with the West and prevent British withdrawal from the Suez Canal.
The operation quickly unraveled when one bomb detonated prematurely, leading to the arrest of the cell members. Two operatives were executed, others imprisoned or committed suicide under interrogation, and the scandal triggered a major political crisis in Israel. Defense Minister Pinhas Lavon was forced to resign amid accusations and denials of authorization, exposing deep divisions in Israel’s leadership involving figures like Moshe Dayan and Prime Minister Moshe Sharett. Its fallout contributed to escalating tensions, including retaliatory strikes, the Suez Crisis, and long-term shifts in Middle Eastern alliances.
