Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty

The 1979 Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty (Arabic: معاهدة السلام المصرية الإسرائيلية‎, Mu`āhadat as-Salām al-Misrīyah al-'Isrā'īlīyah; Hebrew: הסכם השלום בין ישראל למצרים‎, Heskem HaShalom Bein Yisrael LeMitzrayim) was signed in Washington, D.C. on the 26th of March 1979, following the 1978 Camp David Accords, which were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and were witnessed by United States President Jimmy Carter.[1]
The peace treaty was signed sixteen months after Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat's visit to Israel in 1977 after intense negotiation.
The main features of the treaty were the mutual recognition of each country by the other, the cessation of the state of war that had existed since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and the complete withdrawal by Israel of its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula which Israel had captured during the Six-Day War in 1967. Egypt agreed to leave the area demilitarized. The agreement also provided for the free passage of Israeli ships through the Suez Canal and recognition of the Strait of Tiran, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Taba—Rafah straits as international waterways.
The agreement notably made Egypt the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel.[1]
As part of the agreement, the US began economic and military aid to Egypt, and political backing for its subsequent governments. From the Camp David peace accords in 1978 until 2000, the United States has subsidized Egypt's armed forces with over $38 billion worth of aid. Egypt receives about $1.3 billion annually.[2]

Contents

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[edit] Compliance

According to The Continuum Political Encyclopedia of the Middle East:
"The normalization of relations [between Israel and Egypt] went into effect in January 1980. Ambassadors were exchanged in February. The boycott laws were repealed by Egypt's National Assembly the same month, and some trade began to develop, albeit less than Israel had hoped for. In March 1980 regular airline flights were inaugurated. Egypt also began supplying Israel with crude oil".[3]

[edit] Demilitarization of Sinai

On 18 May 1981, the President of the UN Security Council indicated that the United Nations would be unable to provide an observation force, due to the threat of a veto of the motion by the Soviet Union. As a result of the United Nations Security Council impasse, Egypt, Israel and the United States opened negotiations to set up a peacekeeping organization outside the framework of the UN. On 3 August 1981, the Protocol to the Treaty of Peace was signed, establishing the Multinational Force and Observers.[4] This observation force monitors the Parties to the treaty compliance to the terms of the treaty.
In January 2011, during widespread protests by Egyptians against their government, Israel agreed to allow Egypt to move several hundred troops into the Sinai Peninsula for the first time since the peace treaty was signed.[5] With Israel's agreement, Egypt moved two battalions, about 800 soldiers, into the Sharm el-Sheikh area on Sinai's southern tip, far from Israel.[5]

[edit] International reaction

This treaty was received with controversy. The Arab nations, and especially the Palestinians, condemned it and considered it as a stab in the back. PLO Leader Yasser Arafat said "Let them sign what they like. False peace will not last."[6] On the other hand, the treaty led both Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to share the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace between the two nations. However, Anwar Sadat became unpopular in the Arab circle as well as within his own country. Egypt was suspended from the Arab League as a result of the treaty for 1979-1989.[7] His unpopularity grew, leading to his assassination on 6 October 1981 by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.[8]

[edit] Aftermath

Main article: Egypt-Israel relations
The peace between Egypt and Israel has lasted for thirty years, and Egypt has become an important strategic partner of Israel. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former defence minister known for his close ties to Egyptian officials has stated that "Egypt is not only our closest friend in the region, the co-operation between us goes beyond the strategic."[9]
As part of the agreement, the US began economic and military aid to Egypt, and political backing for its subsequent governments. From the Camp David peace accords in 1978 until 2000, the United States has subsidized Egypt's armed forces with over $38 billion worth of aid. Egypt receives about $2 billion annually.[2]
Nevertheless, the peace is often described as a "cold Peace",[9] with many in Egypt skeptical about its effectiveness.[10][11] The Arab-Israeli conflict has kept relations cool and anti-semitic incitement is prevalent in the Egyptian media.[12] US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks suggest that the Egyptian military continues to see Israel as its primary adversary. [13] In 2008, The Egyptian army conducted simulated military exercises against an "enemy" Israel.[14]
The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 led to fears in Israel about the future of the treaty,[15] although the Israeli Prime Minister stated that he expected any new Egyptian government to keep the peace treaty with Israel, as it has served both countries well.[16] After the Egyptian Army took power on 11 February 2011, it announced that Egypt would continue to abide by all its international and regional treaties.[17] However, Ayman Nour, An influential Egyptian opposition figure and likely presidential candidate called for Cairo’s peace treaty with Israel to be "reassessed". [18]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Camp David Accords – Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  2. ^ a b http://www.fas.org/asmp/profiles/egypt.htm (broken link)
  3. ^ Sela, "Arab-Israel Conflict," 100
  4. ^ 10 Tactical Air Group: Canadian Contingent Multinational Force and Observers Handbook (unclassified), page A-1. DND, Ottawa, 1986.
  5. ^ a b "Israel allows Egypt troops in Sinai for first time since 1979 peace treaty". Haaretz. Associated Press.
  6. ^ 1979: Israel and Egypt shake hands on peace deal BBC News
  7. ^ BBC Timeline: Arab League
  8. ^ Egypt News - Sadat as a president of Egypt
  9. ^ a b Kershner, Isabel (27 January 2011). "Israeli concern for peace partner". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2011.}}
  10. ^ An uneasy Egyptian-Israeli peace - Focus - Al Jazeera English
  11. ^ "Egyptians ponder 30-year peace with Israel". BBC News. 26 March 2009.
  12. ^ Amira Howeidy. "Al-Ahram Weekly | Egypt | Protocols, politics and Palestine". Weekly.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  13. ^ Cable Viewer
  14. ^ Egyptian War Games Cause For Concern in Israel, Lawmaker Says | CNSnews.com
  15. ^ Black, Ian (31 January 2011). "Egypt protests: Israel fears unrest may threaten peace treaty". The Guardian (London).
  16. ^ "Netanyahu: Egypt Could Be A New Iran « Liveshots". Fox News. 8 February 2011.
  17. ^ Fahim, Kareem (12 February 2011). "Egypt Sees New Era After Exit of Hosni Mubarak". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Egyptian opposition figure: Rethink Camp David Accords

[edit] External links