President Anwar Sadat and the 1979 Peace with Israel

By: Ryan Webb

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The signing of the Camp David Peace Accords by President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin on March 26, 1979 altered the strategic picture of the Middle East, as it marked the first time an Arab state recognized the legitimacy of Israel. In reaching a settlement, Sadat alienated himself from the Arab world by failing to secure an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza or the recognition of the Palestinians. Instead, Sadat obtained a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai. In short, Sadat acted in the best interests of Egypt at the expense of his Arab neighbors. This came as some surprise since Egypt, as the most populous and powerful Arab nation, had emerged as the leader of the Arab world during the rule of Sadat’s predecessor, Gamel Abder Nasser. Sadat walked his own path, however, and pursued peace with his avowed enemy. Scholars and historians have offered a variety of reasons as to why Sadat brokered peace with Israel in 1979. Some writers emphasize internal economic and political issues while others point to military matters, strategic interests, or Sadat’s psychology. There is also the view that Israel and the United States manipulated Sadat into accepting a peace that they wanted. Despite these differences in methodology and theory, there is agreement that Sadat’s priority of Egypt first motivated him to sign the peace. While he regained the Sinai, the diplomatic skill and stubbornness of Begin prevented him from achieving more. In the end, Sadat resigned himself to signing the peace, while hoping that further gains could be made later.