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Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords, establishing peace between Israel and Egypt, were signed by Anwar El Sadat and Menachem Begin on this date in 1978 with U.S. President Jimmy Carter serving as witness and facilitator. The Accords resulted in Israel’s withdrawal from the Sinai, which was restored to Egypt; recognition of Israel by Egypt, which became the first Arab state involved in earlier wars with Israel to do so; agreement by Israel to permit the establishment of a “self-governing authority” in the Palestinian territories and to withdraw from the occupied territories; the firm entry of Egypt into the pro-American bloc of Middle Eastern states (which came to include, most significantly, Jordan and Saudi Arabia); and a Nobel Peace Prize shared by Begin and Sadat — who would be assassinated for his peace-making in 1981.
“Peace is much more precious than a piece of land . . . let there by no more wars.” —Anwar Sadat
Lawrence Bush edited Jewish Currents from 2003 until 2018. He is the author of Bessie: A Novel of Love and Revolution and Waiting for God: The Spiritual Explorations of a Reluctant Atheist, among other books. His new volume of illustrated Torah commentaries, American Torah Toons 2, is scheduled for publication this year.