sep 17, 1978 - Camp David Accords

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The Camp David Accords were political agreements signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following twelve days of secret negotiations at Camp David, with U.S. President Jimmy Carter as a witness. These agreements led to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty and earned Sadat and Begin the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. The first agreement addressed Palestinian territories but was condemned by the UN for lack of Palestinian involvement.

Preceding Diplomacy
President Carter aimed to revive the Middle East peace process, initially focusing on comprehensive peace but later shifting to bilateral talks between Egypt and Israel. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his successor, Menachem Begin, were skeptical of an international conference. Begin was open to returning the Sinai but not the West Bank.

Sadat Initiative
In 1977, Sadat announced his intention to visit Jerusalem and address the Knesset, leading to groundbreaking peace talks. Both Egypt and Israel saw strategic benefits in bilateral talks, excluding other Arab nations and ensuring more direct negotiations.

Camp David Negotiations
The 13-day Camp David negotiations were tense, with Carter mediating between the mutually hostile Sadat and Begin. Key issues included Israeli settlement withdrawal from Sinai and the status of the West Bank. Carter's determination and personal appeals kept the talks alive, resulting in the Accords.

Partial Agreements
The Accords consisted of two frameworks: one for peace in the Middle East, focusing on Palestinian autonomy, and another for an Egypt-Israel peace treaty. The treaty included Israeli withdrawal from Sinai, normalization of diplomatic relations, and freedom of passage through key waterways.

Consequences
The Camp David Accords changed Middle Eastern politics, isolating Egypt from the Arab League and leading to Sadat's assassination in 1981. The agreements weakened the united Arab front against Israel and shifted the focus to the Palestinian issue.

Israeli Public Support
Most Israelis supported the Accords despite opposition from the settler movement. The peace treaty with Egypt became a national consensus, supported by 85% of Israelis according to a 2001 poll.

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