Camp David Agreement

v. l. To the right: Anwar as-Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Menachem Begin at Camp David

The Camp David negotiations or the Camp David Agreement of September 17, 1978 were based on UN Security Council Resolution 242 and were intended to contribute to securing peace in the Middle East . The Camp David negotiations ultimately also led to the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty .

course

On the mediation of US President Jimmy Carter , the negotiating teams of Israel , led by Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt , led by President Anwar as-Sadat , entered Camp David ( Maryland / USA ) on September 5 , a recreation facility for the respective US President, together for the time being in secret negotiations. After twelve days, the results were presented, which should help normalize relations between Israel and Egypt and calm the Middle East conflict .

The Gaza Strip and the West Bank were to be given a five-year autonomy status, after which a final settlement should be made. The question of the sovereignty of the regions was left out of the negotiations. Israel pledged to recognize "the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people".

In addition, the normalization process between Israel and Egypt should also serve as a role model for other countries in the region.

Demands during the negotiations were Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, which had been at war since the Six Day War . This peace treaty should include mutual recognition and allow diplomatic missions in the countries, as well as the free exchange of goods between the two nations.

On March 21, 1979, the signed agreement was approved by the Knesset with a large majority.

episode

Military airfields (4) abandoned by the IAF on the Sinai Peninsula after the Camp David Agreement and newly constructed airfields (3) in the southern district of Israel

The result was the signing of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty in March 1979. Israel withdrew its troops from Sinai by April 1982 and also gave up its military airfields Eitam, Etzion, Ofira and Refidim. As a replacement, the Nevatim , Ramon and Ovda airfields were newly built by US companies in the southern district of Israel.

As a result of this separate peace within the Arab world, Egypt was temporarily isolated. The Camp David negotiations can nevertheless be seen as a first step towards reconciliation between Israel and its Arab neighbors. In December 1978 Sadat and Begin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts .

literature

Lawrence Wright : Thirteen Days in September . Oneworld Publications, London 2014, ISBN 978-1-78074-769-9 .
Lawrence Wright : Thirteen Days in September . WBG, Darmstadt 2016, ISBN 978-3-8062-3381-0 .

Individual evidence

^ The Camp David Accords. In: knesset.gov.il. The State of Israel, accessed May 5, 2011 .
^ Yale University : The Avalon Project: Camp David Accords; September 17, 1978
↑ Ninth Knesset. In: knesset.gov.il. The State of Israel, accessed on May 5, 2011 (English): "The Peace Treaty was ratified in March 1979, with 95 MKs in favor, 18 against and 2 abstentions."

[1] The Camp David Accords. In: knesset.gov.il. The State of Israel, accessed May 5, 2011 .

[2] Yale University : The Avalon Project: Camp David Accords; September 17, 1978

[3] Ninth Knesset. In: knesset.gov.il. The State of Israel, accessed on May 5, 2011 (English): "The Peace Treaty was ratified in March 1979, with 95 MKs in favor, 18 against and 2 abstentions."