Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel, 1977

Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel, 1977 is the visit of the President of Egypt Anwar Sadat on 19 November 1977, to Jerusalem. The purpose of the visit was to address the Knesset, the legislative body in Israel, to try to advance the Israeli-Arab peace process. Anwar Sadat met with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Menachem Begin. It is the first visit of its kind for an Arab leader to Israel. At that time the two countries were considered at war.

Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel
Sadat giving a speech in the Knesset
DateNovember 19–21, 1977 (1977-11-19 – 1977-11-21)
LocationIsrael, Palestinian territories
This article is part of
a series about
Anwar Sadat

Presidency

Family

Portrayals

Legacy

Background

Sadat had stated before a special session of the Egyptian People's Assembly that he was ready to go to their "home", the Knesset in Jerusalem and discuss peace on 9 November 1977. Among those present was the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat.[1] Sadat got a standing ovation, and they did not think that the president was serious about what he was saying. The Israelis responded and sent an official invitation to him through the American ambassador in Cairo.

The visit

“You want to live with us in this part of the world,” Sadat declared. “In all sincerity, I tell you, we welcome you among us, with full security and safety.”[2] During the speech, he also fervently rejected Israeli sovereignty over Old Jerusalem.[3] After Al Aqsa Mosque, Sadat toured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.[3]

Aftermath
Main articles: Camp David Accords and Egypt–Israel peace treaty

Sadat move was widely condemned by Arab leaders.

The talks continued after that in the Egyptian city of Ismailia with American mediation. The two sides would reach a bilateral agreement at Camp David that culminated in a peace treaty in March 1979.

References
  1. "Marking four decades to Egypt-Israel 'cold peace' | Mahmud el-Shafey". AW.
  2. Greenspan, Jesse. "How Jimmy Carter Brokered a Hard-Won Peace Deal Between Israel and Egypt". HISTORY.
  3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/11/21/a-day-of-symbolism/050baf56-0509-4a2e-bcad-14d0b4f2e08a/
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.