Skip to content
Read • Question • ConnectAnthony’s notes & researchReturn with a new question
Anthony’s NotesA personal field guide
From the notebook

1978 Camp David Accords

The Camp David Accords were two framework agreements signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following nearly two weeks of secret negotiations at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, with U.S. President Jimmy Carter serving as mediator[1][2].

The two framework agreements that comprised the Camp David Accords were:

  1. “A Framework for Peace in the Middle East” - This agreement provided principles for establishing peace in the region, including[2][4]:
  • A process for Palestinian self-government in the West Bank and Gaza
  • A framework for peace treaties between Israel and its other Arab neighbors
  • The Palestinians were not directly involved in negotiating this agreement
  1. “A Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel” - This agreement paved the way for the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Key provisions included[2][4]:
  • Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, which it had occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War
  • Egypt agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel and open the Suez Canal to Israeli ships
  • The agreement called for UN forces to monitor security arrangements

The Camp David Accords marked a major breakthrough, as it was the first time an Arab state agreed to make peace and recognize Israel[3][5]. Sadat and Begin were awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for the agreements[4].

However, the Accords were controversial in the Arab world. Egypt was expelled from the Arab League for making a separate peace with Israel. The provisions on Palestinian autonomy were not implemented, as they were rejected by the Palestine Liberation Organization[2][4].

Nonetheless, the Egypt-Israel peace treaty emanating from the Accords has endured for over 40 years now, establishing the Camp David Accords as a landmark moment in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict[3][6][7].

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_David_Accords

  • Begin and Sadat had such mutual antipathy toward one another that they only seldom had direct contact; thus Carter had to conduct his own microcosmic form of shuttle diplomacy by holding one-on-one meetings with either Sadat or Begin in one cabin, then returning to the cabin of the third party to relay the substance of his discussions. Begin and Sadat were “literally not on speaking terms,” and “claustrophobia was setting in.”14(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_David_Accords#cite_note-14)
  • Consequently, the 13 days marking the Camp David Accords were considered a success, in part due to Carter’s determination in obtaining an Israeli–Egyptian agreement, which represented considerable time focused on a singular international problem.
  • The Accords recognized the “legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”, a process to be implemented guaranteeing the full autonomy of the people within a period of five years. Begin insisted on the adjective “full” to ensure that it was the maximum political right attainable
  • The Camp David Accords comprise two separate agreements: “A Framework for Peace in the Middle East” and “A Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel”, the second leading towards the Egypt–Israel peace treaty signed in March 1979. The agreements and the peace treaty were both accompanied by “side-letters” of understanding between Egypt and the U.S. and Israel and the U.S.
  • The second framework24(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_David_Accords#cite_note-Framework_CPTEI-24) outlined a basis for the peace treaty six months later, in particular deciding the future of the Sinai peninsula. Israel agreed to withdraw its armed forces from the Sinai, gave up its four air bases that had been built there since the Six-Day War (see map to the right), evacuate its 4,500 civilian inhabitants, and restore it to Egypt in return for normal diplomatic relations with Egypt, guarantees of freedom of passage through the Suez Canal and other nearby waterways (such as the Straits of Tiran), and a restriction on the forces Egypt could place on the Sinai peninsula, especially within 20–40 km from Israel. This process would take three years to complete. Israel also agreed to limit its forces a smaller distance (3 km) from the Egyptian border, and to guarantee free passage between Egypt and Jordan. With the withdrawal, Israel also returned Egypt’s Abu-Rudeis oil fields in western Sinai, which contained long term, commercially productive wells.

https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/camp-david-accords

  • Notably, the treaty that resulted from the second “framework” also called for the United States to provide both countries with billions in annual subsidies, including military aid. Under the terms negotiated, Egypt receives $1.3 billion annually in military aid from the United States, while Israel receives $3 billion.
  • In subsequent years, this financial assistance has been given on top of other aid packages and investments involving both countries on the part of the United States. The subsidies as earmarked in the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty have continued to the present day.

Destiny Notes

  • 1978: Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, facilitated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
    • Carter Initiative
      • Carter’s goal was to rejuvenate the Middle East peace process.
      • The Egyptians and Israelis secretly worked towards bilateral talks.
  • Participating Parties
    • Carter met with Sadat of Egypt, Hussein of Jordan, Hafez al-Assad of Syria, and Rabin of Israel. Only Sadat and Rabin were interested in negotiations.
  • Sadat Initiative
    • Sadat seemed eager to make peace with Israel, even traveling to Jerusalem and speaking in front of the Knesset about potential peace.
    • Egypt wanted to secure a future more in line with its own interests, rather than fixating on being part of the broader Arab collection of countries. There was also a belief that a bilateral peace agreement with Israel would cause a cascade of other peace agreements to happen in following.
  • Egyptian-Israeli talks
    • Carter pushed both leaders in Camp David for a broad peace agreement between the two.
  • Partial agreements
    • The first part of the agreement focused on UN Resolution 242.
      • Wanted to establish self-governing authorities in the West Bank and Gaza strip.
      • Deliberately left out talks about Jerusalem, and neglected the Golan Heights, Syria or Lebanon.
    • The second part of the agreement dealt with Egyptian-Israeli relations.
    • A 5 year plan was given to have the West Bank and Gaza rule themselves autonomously. Again, Jerusalem was not mentioned nor was the Palestinian Right of Return.
  • UN Rejection
    • The UN General Assembly rejected the Framework for Peace in the Middle East due to lack of participation of the UN and PLO. It did not comply with the Palestinian right of return, of self-determination and to national independence and soverignty.
    • The part of the Camp David accords regarding the Palestinian future and all similar ones were declared invalid.
  • Key Figures: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.