Camp David Accords - 1979

1. Camp David Accords - 1979 • following 1973 war opportunities for peace, but also new obstacles • Nixon’s National Security Advisor/Secretary of State began process of ‘shuttle diplomacy’ • Kissinger viewed Middle East as a key component in Cold War conflict • peace in the region would undermine Soviet influence

2. Kissinger’s meetings in Jerusalem, Cairo and Damascus led to the signing of Sinai I and Sinai II (1974,1975) • Egyptian and Israeli forces disengaged and a U.N. force was palced between them • a similar disengagement took place on the Golan Heights creating a demilitarized zone

3. Kissinger iniatives failed to lead to any breakthrough in peace process • Kissinger refused to speak with PLO until they accepted Resolution 242 • Arafat perceived as being an ally of the Soviets and the PLO supportive of terrorist tactics • in 1974 a group of PFLP fedayeen attacked the village of Qiryat Shemona in Israel - 18 Israelis died, including children

4. more children died in a hostage-taking incident; again Israel retaliated • Palestinian justification for attacks • Arab summit in Algiers following 1973 war made important decisions • PLO sole representative of Palestinian people • Peace could only be achieved through surrender of lands won by Israel in 1967 war • Habash’ ‘Rejectionist Front’ broke with the PLO

5. in November 1974 Arafat addressed the U.N. - olive branch and gun • PLO given observer status at U.N. • U.S. now willing to support ‘legitimate interests’ of Palestinians if they accepted Resolution 242 and Israel’s right to exist

6. Israel turns right • trauma of near-defeat in 1973 war • Israel ever more dependent on U.S. • Yitzak Rabin elected as new Labour leader, replacing Golda Meir • under Zionist pressure the Rabin government accepted the first Israeli settlements in the West Bank - breaking international law • UN resolution (1975) condemns Zionism as ‘racist’

7. in 1976 protests against Jewish settlements led to the death of six Palestinians - date 30 March became an annual day of protest, ‘Land Day’ • commemoration spread to Occupied Territories • heightened sense of Palestinian nationalism • municipal election brought victory to the PLO and nationalist candidates

8. Likud • 1976 - Israeli commando raid freed Israeli hostages - Entebbe, Uganda • in Israeli elections the right-wing Likud party came to power • Likud was rooted in extremist groups like the Irgun of the 1940’s and found support among the disadvantaged Sephardic community • hardline policy - all lands of Palestine given them by God

9. new PM Menachem Begin • Polish background, Irgun fighter • viewed all enemies as essentially anti-semitic • policy - strong defense • Foreign Minister, Moshe Dayan • Sharon responsible for settlements - within 25 years close to 450,000 Jewish settlers in Palestinian Occupied Territories • water resources of West Bank exploited by Israel

10. Quest for Peace • Jimmy Carter elected U.S. president in 1976 • Carter declared his support for a Palestinian ‘homeland’ • U.S. and European Community ruled that settlements were illegal • both Sadat and Begin were open to the idea of peace talks • in November 1977 Sadat addressed the Knesset

11. Palestinians felt excluded in negotiations - carried out attack on bus near Haifa - 37 Israelis killed • Carter now intervened in the Egyptian/Israeli talks and invited Sadat and Begin to Camp David • Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan accompanied Begin; Carter’s National Security Advisor was Zbigniew Brezinski • after fourteen days of negotiations an aggreement was reached

12. Camp David Accords • formal peace treaty between Israel and Egypt • Isreal withdrew its forces from the Sinai • Egypt received major financial aid from the U.S • Israel recognized ‘legitimate rights’ of Palestinian people and promised ‘full autonomy’ after transitional period • Israel now able to focus on PLO threat from Lebanon