The father of modern Egypt. The founder of Arab nationalism. The leader of the Egyptian Revolution. The creator of Nasserism, his own brand of political and social governance.
Anthony Eden, the former British Prime Minister, called him the Mussolini of the Nile.
Nasser was all of these things and more. He led the revolution that overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and subsequently shaped the new government and on June 23, 1956, he was elected president.
A prominent regional and world leader, he fostered the concept of pan-Arabism and strove to unite historically uncooperative Arab countries for Palestine’s sake.
“Our path to Palestine will not be covered with red carpet or yellow sand, but with blood,” he said.
“In order that we may liberate Palestine, the Arab nation and Arab armies must unite.”
The Israelis certainly feared him as the one man who could truly bind all the Arab nations against them. It didn’t happen.
Yet to this day Nasser’s name evokes great emotion among Egyptians and much of the Arab world. He remains an icon, symbolizing Arab dignity, pride and unity.
