Back More
Salem Press

Table of Contents

** Israel & Palestine

Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty

by Bethany Groff Dorau, MA

Date: March 26, 1979

Geographic Region: Middle East

Authors: Anwar al-Sadat and Menachem Begin (signatories)

Genre: Treaty

Summary Overview

On March 26, 1979, after three decades of declared war between their two nations, Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin signed the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. The treaty was signed at the White House and was overseen by U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who had arranged for the meeting that led to the treaty and played a crucial role in negotiations. The framework for peace that led to the treaty, called the Camp David Accords, was a result of over a year of high-level diplomatic negotiations, culminating in a two-week summit at Camp David, in rural Maryland, beginning on September 5, 1978. Egypt and other Arab nations had been at war with Israel since the latter had declared its independence in 1948. After the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel occupied the Egyptian-controlled Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. The United Nations issued Resolution 242, which called for Israel’s withdrawal from these and other occupied areas in exchange for peace with its Arab neighbors and an equitable settlement for displaced Palestinians. For a decade, no agreement was reached, and unrest in the Middle East continued. Sadat and Begin were awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the Camp David Accords and the treaty that followed.

Defining Moment

Conflict between Egypt and what became Israel can be traced back to the end of World War I. When the Ottoman Empire collapsed at the end of the war, Palestine, which it had controlled for four centuries, was placed under British control, and planning for a Jewish homeland in the region began. After World War II, the United Nations adopted a plan to partition the region into three separate areas, which was accepted by the Jewish community but not the Arab world. There would be an independent Israel, an independent Palestine, and the contested cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem would be internationally administered by the United Nations. The region disintegrated into civil war after Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948. The fighting continued for ten months, and Israel was left in control of a larger area than had initially been included in the United Nations partition plan. There was no independent Palestinian state, and the remainder of the territory was divided up between Israel’s neighbors. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs left their lands in the newly created Israeli state and fled to neighboring countries, while hundreds of thousands of Jewish people from across the world settled in Israel. This massive demographic upheaval exacerbated long-standing resentment between Israel and its neighbors, and sporadic violence flared up in the decades that followed.

Arab resistance to Israel was led by Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser until his death in 1970. During his tenure, Egypt lost the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip to Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War; Syria lost the Golan Heights and Jordan lost the West Bank. When hostilities ended on June 11, 1967, the Egyptian air force was destroyed, and Israel occupied more than three times as much territory as it had held before the war. The United Nations passed Security Council Resolution 242 in November, calling for Israel to leave occupied areas and settle the refugee crisis, and for Israel’s neighbors to seek peace and recognize Israel’s right to exist.

A stalemate quickly developed as Israel waited to withdraw its troops until it had received official recognition from its Arab neighbors, which was not forthcoming. When Sadat became president of Egypt after Nasser’s death, he was eager to regain the territory lost in the Six-Day War, and also believed that even if unsuccessful, an attack could put him in a more favorable position to set terms of peace. On October 6, 1973, the Yom Kippur War began, as Egypt and Syria attacked Israel with support from Jordan and Iraq. Israel quickly mobilized and pushed back the allies, and on October 25, 1973, a cease-fire was declared. After the war, Sadat, who had been heavily supported by the Soviet Union, moved away from Soviet influence and made overtures toward Israel and the West. In 1974, a portion of the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, and in 1977, Sadat traveled to Jerusalem. He was the first Arab leader to ever visit Israel, and his visit outraged many hard-line pan-Arabists. After it seemed that peace talks were faltering, Carter, the president of the United States in 1977, invited Sadat and Begin to meet at Camp David, the presidential retreat in rural Maryland. There, they hashed out a road map that would lead to peace between the two nations, and both signed the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty on March 26, 1979.

Author Biographies

The Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty was signed on March 26, 1979, in Washington, D.C. The treaty was witnessed by Jimmy Carter, president of the United States since 1977, and was signed by Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin.

Sadat had played a major role in the fight against British rule in Egypt in the 1940s and 1950s, in some cases facing imprisonment. After aiding in Gamal Abdel Nasser’s coup that overthrew the British in 1952, he succeeded in being named to the vice presidency under Nasser in 1964 and again in 1969. Upon Nasser’s death, he was elected president in 1970 and quickly began making serious efforts to establish peace between Egypt and Israel. However, facing increased domestic disapproval following the treaty signed in 1979, he was assassinated in 1981.

Begin had been head of the Betar, a Revisionist-Zionist youth movement, and fought with an underground militant group to attain an independent Israeli state. In 1977, when his Likud party won a majority in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament), he was elected prime minister. He resigned from his post in 1983 and died in 1992.

Historical Document

The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Government of the State of Israel;

Preamble

Convinced of the urgent necessity of the establishment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338;

Reaffirming their adherence to the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East Agreed at Camp David,” dated September 17, 1978;

Noting that the aforementioned Framework as appropriate is intended to constitute a basis for peace not only between Egypt and Israel but also between Israel and each of its other Arab neighbors which is prepared to negotiate peace with it on this basis;

Desiring to bring to an end the state of war between them and to establish a peace in which every state in the area can live in security;

Convinced that the conclusion of a Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel is an important step in the search for comprehensive peace in the area and for the attainment of settlement of the Arab- Israeli conflict in all its aspects;

Inviting the other Arab parties to this dispute to join the peace process with Israel guided by and based on the principles of the aforementioned Framework;

Desiring as well to develop friendly relations and cooperation between themselves in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law governing international relations in times of peace;

Agree to the following provisions in the free exercise of their sovereignty, in order to implement the “Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty Between Egypt and Israel”;

Article I

The state of war between the Parties will be terminated and peace will be established between them upon the exchange of instruments of ratification of this Treaty. Israel will withdraw all its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai behind the international boundary between Egypt and mandated Palestine, as provided in the annexed protocol (Annex I ), and Egypt will resume the exercise of its full sovereignty over the Sinai. Upon completion of the interim withdrawal provided for in Annex I, the parties will establish normal and friendly relations, in accordance with Article III (3).

Article II

The permanent boundary between Egypt and Israel in the recognized international boundary between Egypt and the former mandated territory of Palestine, as shown on the map at Annex II, without prejudice to the issue of the status of the Gaza Strip. The Parties recognize this boundary as inviolable. Each will respect the territorial integrity of the other, including their territorial waters and airspace.

Article III

The Parties will apply between them the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law governing relations among states in times of peace. In particular: They recognize and will respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence; They recognize and will respect each other’s right to live in peace within their secure and recognized boundaries; They will refrain from the threat or use of force, directly or indirectly, against each other and will settle all disputes between them by peaceful means. Each Party undertakes to ensure that acts or threats of belligerency, hostility, or violence do not originate from and are not committed from within its territory, or by any forces subject to its control or by any other forces stationed on its territory, against the population, citizens or property of the other Party. Each Party also undertakes to refrain from organizing, instigating, inciting, assisting or participating in acts or threats of belligerency, hostility, subversion or violence against the other Party, anywhere, and undertakes to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice. The Parties agree that the normal relationship established between them will include full recognition, diplomatic, economic and cultural relations, termination of economic boycotts and discriminatory barriers to the free movement of people and goods, and will guarantee the mutual enjoyment by citizens of the due process of law. The process by which they undertake to achieve such a relationship parallel to the implementation of other provisions of this Treaty is set out in the annexed protocol (Annex III).

Article IV

In order to provide maximum security for both Parties on the basis of reciprocity, agreed security arrangements will be established including limited force zones in Egyptian and Israeli territory, and United Nations forces and observers, described in detail as to nature and timing in Annex I, and other security arrangements the Parties may agree upon. The Parties agree to the stationing of United Nations personnel in areas described in Annex I. The Parties agree not to request withdrawal of the United Nations personnel and that these personnel will not be removed unless such removal is approved by the Security Council of the United Nations, with the affirmative vote of the five Permanent Members, unless the Parties otherwise agree. A Joint Commission will be established to facilitate the implementation of the Treaty, as provided for in Annex I. The security arrangements provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article may at the request of either party be reviewed and amended by mutual agreement of the Parties.

Article V

Ships of Israel, and cargoes destined for or coming from Israel, shall enjoy the right of free passage through the Suez Canal and its approaches through the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean Sea on the basis of the Constantinople Convention of 1888, applying to all nations, Israeli nationals, vessels and cargoes, as well as persons, vessels and cargoes destined for or coming from Israel, shall be accorded non-discriminatory treatment in all matters connected with usage of the canal. The Parties consider the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba to be international waterways open to all nations for unimpeded and non-suspendable freedom of navigation and overflight. The parties will respect each other’s right to navigation and overflight for access to either country through the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Article VI

This Treaty does not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights and obligations of the Parties under the Charter of the United Nations. The Parties undertake to fulfill in good faith their obligations under this Treaty, without regard to action or inaction of any other party and independently of any instrument external to this Treaty. They further undertake to take all the necessary measures for the application in their relations of the provisions of the multilateral conventions to which they are parties, including the submission of appropriate notification to the Secretary General of the United Nations and other depositaries of such conventions. The Parties undertake not to enter into any obligation in conflict with this Treaty. Subject to Article 103 of the United Nations Charter in the event of a conflict between the obligation of the Parties under the present Treaty and any of their other obligations, the obligations under this Treaty will be binding and implemented.

Article VII

Disputes arising out of the application or interpretation of this Treaty shall be resolved by negotiations. Any such disputes which cannot be settled by negotiations shall be resolved by conciliation or submitted to arbitration.

Article VIII

The Parties agree to establish a claims commission for the mutual settlement of all financial claims.

Article IX

This Treaty shall enter into force upon exchange of instruments of ratification. This Treaty supersedes the Agreement between Egypt and Israel of September, 1975. All protocols, annexes, and maps attached to this Treaty shall be regarded as an integral part hereof. The Treaty shall be communicated to the Secretary General of the United Nations for registration in accordance with the provisions of Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Annex I

Protocol Concerning Israeli Withdrawal and Security Agreements

Article I

Concept of Withdrawal Israel will complete withdrawal of all its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai not later than three years from the date of exchange of instruments of ratification of this Treaty. To ensure the mutual security of the Parties, the implementation of phased withdrawal will be accompanied by the military measures and establishment of zones set out in this Annex and in Map 1, hereinafter referred to as “the Zones.” The withdrawal from the Sinai will be accomplished in two phases: The interim withdrawal behind the line from east of El-Arish to Ras Mohammed as delineated on Map 2 within nine months from the date of exchange of instruments of ratification of this Treaty. The final withdrawal from the Sinai behind the international boundary not later than three years from the date of exchange of instruments of ratification of this Treaty. A Joint Commission will be formed immediately after the exchange of instruments of ratification of this Treaty in order to supervise and coordinate movements and schedules during the withdrawal, and to adjust plans and timetables as necessary within the limits established by paragraph 3, above. Details relating to the Joint Commission are set out in Article IV of the attached Appendix. The Joint Commission will be dissolved upon completion of final Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai.

Article II

Determination of Final Lines and Zones In order to provide maximum security for both Parties after the final withdrawal, the lines and the Zones delineated on Map 1 are to be established and organized as follows:

Zone A

Zone A is bounded on the east by line A (red line) and on the west by the Suez Canal and the east coast of the Gulf of Suez, as shown on Map 1. An Egyptian armed force of one mechanized infantry division and its military installations, and field fortifications, will be in this Zone. The main elements of that Division will consist of: Three mechanized infantry brigades. One armed brigade. Seven field artillery battalions including up to 126 artillery pieces. Seven anti-aircraft artillery battalions including individual surface-to-air missiles and up to 126 anti-aircraft guns of 37 mm and above. Up to 230 tanks. Up to 480 armored personnel vehicles of all types. Up to a total of twenty-two thousand personnel.

Zone B

Zone B is bounded by line B (green line) on the east and by line A (red line) on the west, as shown on Map 1. Egyptian border units of four battalions equipped w1nd supplement the civil police in maintaining order in Zone B. The main elements in the four Border Battalions will consist of up to a total of four thousand personnel. Land based, short range, low power, coastal warning points of the border patrol units may be established on the coast of this Zone. There will be in Zone B field fortifications and military installations for the four border battalions.

Zone C

Zone C is bounded by line B (green line) on the west and the International Boundary and the Gulf of Aqaba on the east, as shown on Map 1. Only United Nations forces and Egyptian civil police will be stationed in Zone C. The Egyptian civil police armed with light weapons will perform normal police functions within this Zone. The United Nations Force will be deployed within Zone C and perform its functions as defined in Article VI of this annex. The United Nations Force will be stationed mainly in camps located within the following stationing areas shown on Map 1, and will establish its precise locations after consultations with Egypt: In that part of the area in the Sinai lying within about 20 Km. of the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent to the International Boundary. In the Sharm el Sheikh area.

Zone D

Zone D is bounded by line D (blue line) on the east and the international boundary on the west, as shown on Map 1. In this Zone there will be an Israeli limited force of four infantry battalions, their military installations, and field fortifications, and United Nations observers. The Israeli forces in Zone D will not include tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft missiles except individual surface-to-air missiles. The main elements of the four Israeli infantry battalions will consist of up to 180 armored personnel vehicles of all types and up to a total of four thousand personnel. Access across the international boundary shall only be permitted through entry check points designated by each Party and under its control. Such access shall be in accordance with laws and regulations of each country. Only those field fortifications, military installations, forces, and weapons specifically permitted by this Annex shall be in the Zones.

Article III

Aerial Military Regime Flights of combat aircraft and reconnaissance flights of Egypt and Israel shall take place only over Zones A and D, respectively. Only unarmed, non-combat aircraft of Egypt and Israel will be stationed in Zones A and D, respectively. Only Egyptian unarmed transport aircraft will take off and land in Zone B and up to eight such aircraft may be maintained in Zone B. The Egyptian border unit may be equipped with unarmed helicopters to perform their functions in Zone B. The Egyptian civil police may be equipped with unarmed police helicopters to perform normal police functions in Zone C. Only civilian airfields maybe built in the Zones. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Treaty, only those military aerial activities specifically permitted by this Annex shall be allowed in the Zones and the airspace above their territorial waters.

Article IV

Naval Regime Egypt and Israel may base and operate naval vessels along the coasts of Zones A and D, respectively. Egyptian coast guard boats, lightly armed, may be stationed and operate in the territorial waters of Zone B to assist the border units in performing their functions in this Zone. Egyptian civil police equipped with light boats, lightly armed, shall perform normal police functions within the territorial waters of Zone C. Nothing in this Annex shall be considered as derogating from the right of innocent passage of the naval vessels of either party. Only civilian maritime ports and installations may be built in the Zones. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Treaty, only those naval activities specifically permitted by this Annex shall be allowed in the Zones and in their territorial waters.

Article V

Early Warning Systems Egypt and Israel may establish and operate early warning systems only in Zones A and D respectively.

Article VI

United Nations Operations The Parties will request the United Nations to provide forces and observers to supervise the implementation of this Annex and employ their best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms. With respect to these United Nations forces and observers, as appropriate, the Parties agree to request the following arrangements: Operation of check points, reconnaissance patrols, and observation posts along the international boundary and line B, and within Zone C. Periodic verification of the implementation of the provisions of this Annex will be carried out not less than twice a month unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. Additional verifications within 48 hours after the receipt of a request from either Party. Ensuring the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran in accordance with Article V of the Treaty of Peace. The arrangements described in this article for each zone will be implemented in ones A, B, and C by the United Nations Force and in Zone D by the United Nations Observers. United Nations verification teams shall be accompanied by liaison officers of the respective Party. The United Nations Force and observers will report their findings to both Parties. The United Nations Force and Observers operating in the Zones will enjoy freedom of movement and other facilities necessary for the performance of their tasks. The United Nations Force and Observers are not empowered to authorize the crossing of the international boundary. The Parties shall agree on the nations from which the United Nations Force and Observers will be drawn. They “will be drawn from nations other than those which are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The Parties agree that the United Nations should make those command arrangements that will best assure the effective implementation of its responsibilities.

Article VII

Liaison System Upon dissolution of the Joint Commission, a liaison system between the Parties will be established. This liaison system is intended to provide an effective method to assess progress in the implementation of obligations under the present Annex and to resolve any problem that may arise in the course of implementation, and refer other unresolved matters to the higher military authorities of the two countries respectively for consideration. It is also intended to prevent situations resulting from errors or misinterpretation on the part of either Party. An Egyptian liaison office will be established in the city of El-Arish and an Israeli liaison office will be established in the city of Beer-Sheba. Each office will be headed by an officer of the respective country, and assisted by a number of officers. A direct telephone link between the two offices will be set up and also direct telephone lines with the United Nations command will be maintained by both offices.

Article VIII

Respect for War Memorials Each Party undertakes to preserve in good condition the War Memorials erected in the memory of soldiers of the other Party, namely, those erected by Egypt in Israel, and shall permit access to such monuments.

Article IX

Interim Arrangements The withdrawal of Israeli armed forces and civilians behind the interim withdrawal line, and the conduct of the forces of the Parties and the United Nations prior to the final withdrawal, will be governed by the attached Appendix and Map 2 . . .

Annex II

Map of Israel-Egypt International Boundary

Annex III

Protocol Concerning Relations of the Parties

Article 1

Diplomatic and Consular Relations The Parties agree to establish diplomatic and consular relations and to exchange ambassadors upon completion of the interim withdrawal.

Article 2

Economic and Trade Relations The Parties agree to remove all discriminatory barriers to normal economic relations and to terminate economic boycotts of each other upon completion of the interim withdrawal. As soon as possible, and not later than six months after the completion of the interim withdrawal, the Parties will enter negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement on trade and commerce for the purpose of promoting beneficial economic relations.

Article 3

Cultural Relations The Parties agree to establish normal cultural relations following completion of the interim withdrawal. They agree on the desirability of cultural exchanges in all fields, and shall, as soon as possible and not later than six months after completion of the interim withdrawal, enter into negotiations with a view to concluding a cultural agreement for this purpose.

Article 4

Freedom of Movement Upon completion of the interim withdrawal, each Party will permit the free movement of the nationals and vehicles of the other into and within its territory according to the general rules applicable to nationals and vehicles of other states. Neither Party will impose discriminatory restrictions on the free movement of persons and vehicles from its territory to the territory of the other. Mutual unimpeded access to places of religious and historical significance will be provided on a non- discriminatory basis.

Article 5

Cooperation for Development and Good Neighborly Relations The Parties recognize a mutuality of interest in good neighbourly relations and agree to consider means to promote such relations. The Parties will cooperate in promoting peace, stability and development in their region. Each agrees to consider proposals the other may wish to make to this end. The Parties shall seek to foster mutual understanding and tolerance and will, accordingly, abstain from hostile propaganda against each other.

Article 6

Transportation and Telecommunications The Parties recognize as applicable to each other the rights, privileges and obligations provided for by the aviation agreements to which they are both party, particularly by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944 (“The Chicago Convention”) and the International Air Services Transit Agreement, 1944. Upon completion of the interim withdrawal any declaration of national emergency by a party under Article 89 of the Chicago Convention will not be applied to the other party on a discriminatory basis. Egypt agrees that the use of airfields left by Israel near El-Arish, Rafah, Ras El-Nagb and Sharm El- Sheikh shall be for civilian purposes only, including possible commercial use by all nations. As soon as possible and not later than six months after the completion of the interim withdrawal, the Parties shall enter into negotiations for the purpose of concluding a civil aviation agreement. The Parties will reopen and maintain roads and railways between their countries and will consider further road and rail links. The Parties further agree that a highway will be constructed and maintained between Egypt, Israel and Jordan near Eilat with guaranteed free and peaceful passage of persons, vehicles and goods between Egypt and Jordan, without prejudice to their sovereignty over that part of the highway which falls within their respective territory. Upon completion of the interim withdrawal, normal postal, telephone, telex, data facsimile, wireless and cable communications and television relay services by cable, radio and satellite shall be established between the two Parties in accordance with all relevant international conventions and regulations. Upon completion of the interim withdrawal, each Party shall grant normal access to its ports for vessels and cargoes of the other, as well as vessels and cargoes destined for or coming from the other. Such access will be granted on the same conditions generally applicable to vessels and cargoes of other nations. Article 5 of the Treaty of Peace will be implemented upon the exchange of instruments of ratification of the aforementioned treaty.

Article 7

Enjoyment of Human Rights The Parties affirm their commitment to respect and observe human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and they will promote these rights and freedoms in accordance with the United Nations Charter.

Article 8

Territorial Seas Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 5 of the Treaty of Peace each Party recognizes the right of the vessels of the other Party to innocent passage through its territorial sea in accordance with the rules of international law . . .

For the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt: Muhammed Anwar al-Sadat

For the Government of Israel: Menachem Begin

Witnessed by: Jimmy Carter, President of the United States of America

Document Analysis

The Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty begins with an affirmation of the need for peace between not only Israel and Egypt, but all of Israel’s neighbors in the Middle Eastern region. The opening lines of the treaty also affirm the desire of both nations to come into compliance with U.N. Security Resolution 242, which called for the withdrawal of Israel from occupied lands and the recognition of Israel by Arab states. Egypt feels that it must lead other nations in this regard, as “a Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel is an important step in the search for comprehensive peace in the area and for the attainment of settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its aspects.” Other Arab states are invited to join the peace process as outlined in the Camp David Accords, and both nations desire to comply with the U.N. Charter.

The two most contentious points in any conversation between Israel and its neighbors were always the return of occupied lands and the recognition of Israel’s sovereignty. The body of the treaty deals primarily with the mechanics of the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and the simultaneous official recognition of the state of Israel. The withdrawal of Israeli troops and civilians is addressed in great detail, and the Egyptians agree to hold Sinai as a demilitarized area once they regain control of it. The treaty does not address the issue of the Palestinians, and leaves the issue of Gaza, the other occupied territory formerly under Egypt’s control, to be revisited “without prejudice,” exempting it from the required return of territory to Egypt. In fact, the Camp David Accords dealt with the transition of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to a self-governing Palestinian state, so there was no need to include such language in the treaty.

In addition to the agreement to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, with its very specific requirements for access and buffer zones on both sides, the treaty addresses two specific points crucial to a healthy trade relationship. Egypt agrees to free passage of Israeli vessels through the Suez Canal, the Strait of Tiran, and the Gulf of Aqaba. This access was crucial to the delivery of supplies, particularly oil, to Israel. In addition, Israel would now be allowed to purchase Egyptian oil on the open market, a trade relationship that was impossible during the declared war of the previous years. In further hope of preventing future conflicts related to such deep-seated issues, the treaty also specifies that any possible disputes over these stipulations should be handled through diplomacy rather than military action.

Essential Themes

Egypt was a very large and relatively developed and wealthy nation compared to some of its Arab neighbors, and the world had good reason to hope that the signing of the Egypt-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1979 would be the first step to a general thawing of tensions between Israel and its Middle Eastern neighbors. Egypt would be the only neighbor to recognize Israel for years, however. Sadat returned to find many of his former allies outraged at the treaty and refusing to accept the Camp David Accords and their peace process. In 1979, Egypt was suspended from membership in the Arab League, whose headquarters were moved to Tunisia, even as Sadat and Begin were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the Camp David Accords. Sadat was assassinated by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad on October 6, 1981, as he attended a parade commemorating Egypt’s crossing of the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Relations between Egypt and Israel continued to evolve, however, and in 1982, full diplomatic relations were established between the two nations. Egypt was the only nation to recognize Israel until 1994, when Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel.

Bibliography and Additional Reading

1 

Lesch, David W. 1979: The Year That Shaped the Modern Middle East. Boulder: Westview, 2001. Print.

2 

Meital, Yoram. Peace in Tatters: Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East. Boulder: Rienner, 2006. Print.

3 

Wright, Lawrence. Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David. New York: Knopf, 2014. Print.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Dorau, Bethany Groff. "Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty." ** Israel & Palestine, edited by Editors of Salem Press, Salem Press, 2023. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=GHCT1023_0017.
APA 7th
Dorau, B. G. (2023). Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. In E. o. Salem Press (Ed.), ** Israel & Palestine. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Dorau, Bethany Groff. "Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty." Edited by Editors of Salem Press. ** Israel & Palestine. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2023. Accessed July 30, 2025. online.salempress.com.