Egyptian-Israeli Peace Process

Lessons from the Successful Egyptian-Israeli Peace Process
By Don Sutherland

The experience from the negotiations that followed the Camp David Accords of 1978 provides some important lessons that are relevant to any successful peace process concerning the longstanding Arab-Israeli dispute. The leaders’ motivations, their negotiating tactics, and the authority of their negotiators are essential to accommodating a successful outcome. Throughout the process, various risks or emergent issues would need to be addressed if a successful outcome is to be realized.

On September 17, 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, with mediation from U.S. President Jimmy Carter, agreed to a framework that provided upon completion of a peace treaty, “normal relations will be established between Egypt and Israel, including full recognition, including diplomatic, economic and cultural relations; termination of economic boycotts and barriers to the free movement of goods and people; and mutual protection of citizens by the due process of law.” Separately, the parties committed themselves to completing the peace treaty by December 17, 1978. Following a period of sometimes difficult negotiations and a breakdown in the process, a treaty was signed on March 26, 1979.

Three factors played an important role in ensuring the successful completion of the Egyptian-Israeli peace process. First, the Egyptian and Israeli leaders were sufficiently motivated to allow them to sustain their efforts even during periods of great difficulty. Second, the negotiations were conducted in a direct and bilateral fashion. Third, the negotiators had the capacity to speak for their respective leaders.

Following his unexpected electoral victory, Israel’s Prime Minister Begin expressed his aspiration to be a peacemaker. Upon taking office, he explained to confidants, “I must bring peace to my people.” It did not matter that his predecessors had failed in this quest. He was determined to somehow bring about peace. He believed that he could if the opportunity were available.