Egypt and Israel Sign Historic Peace Treaty at White House
First Arab-Israeli peace treaty ends 30 years of war but leaves Palestinian issue unresolved, triggering Arab boycott of Egypt.
WASHINGTON - Egypt and Israel today signed a formal peace treaty on the White House lawn, ending 30 years of warfare between the two nations while the Arab world expelled Egypt from its ranks and Palestinians mourned their abandonment.
President Jimmy Carter stood between Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat as they signed the treaty, implementing the Camp David frameworks agreed to six months ago.
“Let there be no more war or bloodshed between Arabs and Israelis,” Sadat declared. Begin quoted Isaiah: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
The treaty’s key provisions include:
- Israeli withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula within three years
- Establishment of full diplomatic relations
- End to economic boycotts
- Demilitarized zones and monitoring stations
Conspicuously absent were concrete measures for Palestinian self-rule promised in the Camp David Accords. The treaty mentions only continued negotiations on autonomy, with no deadlines or enforcement mechanisms.
“This is a black day in Arab history,” declared PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. “Sadat has sold Palestine for Sinai sand. We will continue our struggle alone if necessary.”
The Arab League, meeting in Baghdad, immediately suspended Egypt’s membership and moved headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Gulf states severed diplomatic relations and canceled aid programs worth billions.
“Egypt has chosen America and Israel over its Arab brothers,” Syrian President Hafez Assad announced. “This separate peace enables continued occupation of Palestine.”
For Israel, the treaty represents a strategic triumph. “We have achieved peace with the largest Arab country,” Begin noted. “Israel is no longer surrounded by enemies.”
The treaty transforms regional dynamics. Without Egyptian military participation, remaining Arab states cannot credibly threaten Israel conventionally, allowing it to focus on controlling Palestinian territories.
Palestinian refugees watching from camps across the Middle East see their cause relegated to footnote status. “First we lost our land, now we lose our allies,” said Ahmad Khalil in Lebanon’s Shatila camp.
While Carter hailed “a victory for peace,” critics note the agreement’s limitations. By separating Egyptian interests from Palestinian rights, it may have postponed rather than resolved the core conflict.
As the three leaders toasted peace with champagne, the fundamental question remains: can there be lasting Middle East peace while millions of Palestinians remain stateless and under occupation?