Camp David Accords

Camp David Accords, framework for peace in the Middle East signed by United States president Jimmy Carter, Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat, and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, in Washington, D.C. Although the accords led to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, they did not result in peace between Israel and other Arab states. For their efforts to resolve their long-standing conflict, Sadat and Begin received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1979.

The accords arose from attempts to settle differences in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War of 1973. In November 1977 Sadat visited Jerusalem to initiate peace talks between Egypt and Israel. Shortly after talks had stalled, Carter invited Sadat and Begin and their senior aides to the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland, for a series of meetings in September 1978. After 13 days of negotiations, the leaders announced the conclusion of two accords that provided the basis for continuing peace negotiations: a “Framework for Peace in the Middle East” and a “Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty Between Egypt and Israel”.

The Middle East framework outlined principles for a comprehensive peace settlement, focusing on the future of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (both captured in 1967). It called for the withdrawal of Israel’s military government (although Israel could retain forces in specified areas to ensure its security) and for the election of self-governing authorities by residents of these territories, both within a five-year period. It also stated that Israel and Egypt, along with Jordan and “representatives of the Palestinian people”, should participate in negotiations to resolve the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Israel's relations with Jordan, and Israel's right to exist within secure and recognized borders. The Egypt-Israel framework called for Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and the establishment of normal, peaceful relations between the two states.

The Egyptian cabinet approved the accords on September 19, 1977. For Egypt the connection between the two accords was crucial: it feared that fellow Arab states would view a separate Egypt-Israel peace agreement as a betrayal of the Palestinians. The Israeli parliament approved the accords on September 28. Negotiations between Egypt and Israel to implement the accords led to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty signed at the White House, Washington, D.C., on March 26, 1979. The two nations ended the state of war between them and exchanged ambassadors, and Israel gradually withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula.

Despite peace between Egypt and Israel, the two sides were unable to make substantial progress on broader Arab-Israeli peace. Most of the Arab world reacted negatively to the accords and the treaty. The Arab League ousted Egypt and moved its headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. Other Arab states broke off relations with Egypt. Egyptian Islamic radicals within the armed forces assassinated Sadat in October 1981. In Israel, although the accords were unpopular among more radical right-wing parties, 1981 elections kept Begin in power.