Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty Signed in Washington

In November 1977, frustrated by stalled negotiations, Sadat announced that he would go to Jerusalem and speak directly with Israeli leaders. The visit opened talks but did not settle the disputes over withdrawal and Palestinian self government. [1]

Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin signed the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty in Washington on 26 March 1979, with President Jimmy Carter as witness. Egypt and Israel committed to end their state of war when they exchanged ratifications and to establish diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations. [2]

The agreement followed thirteen days of negotiations at Camp David in September 1978. Carter and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance met the Egyptian and Israeli delegations separately as direct talks became difficult. Two frameworks emerged: one for an Egyptian-Israeli treaty, and another for Palestinian self-government in the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations over the treaty continued through the winter. [3] [1]

Israel agreed to withdraw its armed forces and civilians from Sinai within three years of the exchange of ratifications, and Egypt would resume full sovereignty there. Limits on military deployments and international monitoring formed part of the settlement. The separate negotiations on Palestinian autonomy failed to produce an agreement, leaving that part of the Camp David framework unfulfilled. [2] [1]

After Camp David, withdrawal schedules, Egypt's obligations to other Arab states, and Israel's concerns about oil supplies delayed a treaty. In March 1979, Carter traveled to the region and negotiated with Israeli leaders after securing Sadat's consent to speak for Egypt. [1]

Related Diplomats

1. Ephraim Evron [5] [6]
2. Simcha Dinitz [7]

Related Reading

• Egypt and the United States
• Israel and the United States