Egypt's Sadat Makes Historic Visit to Jerusalem, Addresses Knesset
Egyptian president becomes first Arab leader to visit Israel, breaking psychological barriers but sidelining Palestinian issue.
In a moment that shattered thirty years of Arab rejectionism, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat today stood before Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem, declaring “no more war” between the two nations while the Palestinian leadership watched in horror as their cause was effectively abandoned.
Sadat’s unprecedented visit—the first by any Arab leader to Israel—marks a psychological breakthrough that may lead to Egyptian-Israeli peace but leaves Palestinians more isolated than ever.
Breaking the Taboo
“I have come to you today on solid ground to shape a new life and to establish peace,” Sadat told the packed Knesset chamber. His very presence in Jerusalem violated core Arab principles maintained since 1948: no recognition, no negotiation, no peace with Israel.
The Egyptian leader’s motivations are clear:
- Recovering Sinai Peninsula lost in 1967
- Ending ruinous military spending
- Shifting from Soviet to American alignment
- Focusing on Egypt’s desperate economic needs
Palestinian Dismay
For Palestinians, Sadat’s visit represents catastrophic betrayal. “He has sold Jerusalem and Palestine for a handful of Sinai sand,” PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat declared from Beirut. “Arab unity is shattered.”
Sadat mentioned Palestinian rights in his speech, calling for “a just solution to the Palestinian problem.” But his bilateral approach effectively removes Egypt—the Arab world’s most populous and powerful state—from the Palestinian struggle.
Without Egyptian military backing, other Arab states cannot credibly threaten Israel, fundamentally altering the conflict’s balance. The PLO faces strategic orphanhood as its most important ally abandons the cause.
Israel’s Calculations
Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the former underground fighter who once blew up the King David Hotel, warmly welcomed Sadat while offering minimal concessions on Palestinian issues.
“We want full peace with complete reconciliation,” Begin declared, carefully avoiding commitments on Palestinian statehood or territorial withdrawal beyond Sinai.
Israel’s strategy appears clear: separate peace with Egypt removes the military threat, allowing continued control over Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza without fear of conventional war.
Regional Ruptures
Sadat’s visit triggered immediate Arab retaliation:
- Syria declared a day of mourning
- Iraq called for Sadat’s overthrow
- Libya severed relations
- Palestinian demonstrations erupted across refugee camps
The Arab League will likely expel Egypt, but Sadat calculates that recovering Sinai and accessing American aid outweighs isolation from poorer Arab states.
Future Implications
While Israelis and Egyptians celebrate this breakthrough, Palestinians face grim realities:
- Lost Leverage: Without Egyptian military threat, Israel faces reduced pressure for Palestinian concessions
- Arab Division: Sadat’s defection shatters unified Arab negotiating position
- Bilateral Precedent: Other Arab states may seek separate deals, further marginalizing Palestinians
- Superpower Alignment: US mediation favors state-to-state agreements over Palestinian national aspirations
As Sadat departed Jerusalem tonight, he left behind a transformed Middle East. The “peace of the brave” he proclaimed may end Egyptian-Israeli warfare, but for Palestinians watching from refugee camps and occupied territories, it signals not peace but abandonment by their most powerful ally.
The Palestinian struggle must now evolve from reliance on Arab state armies to other forms of resistance—a transformation with unpredictable consequences for regional stability.