CAMP DAVID ACCORDS 1978

GS 2 – INTERNATIONAL RELATION

The Camp David Accords were a pair of political agreements signed on 17 September 1978 by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, following twelve days of secret negotiations at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat in Maryland. The agreements were witnessed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and led to major developments in the Middle East peace process.

Key Points of the Camp David Accords:

Peace Treaty (Second Framework):

• Egypt became the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel.
• Both nations agreed to establish diplomatic relations and peace.
• The agreement directly led to the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.

Territorial Changes:

• Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula, which it had occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War, and returned the land to Egypt.

Security Arrangements:

• Both countries agreed on security terms, and the U.S. played a key role in ensuring the maintenance of peace.

Framework for Peace in the Middle East (First Framework):

• This framework addressed the Palestinian territories but was criticized for excluding Palestinian participation and was condemned by the United Nations.

Recognition and Impact:

Due to their efforts in reaching the agreements, Sadat and Begin were awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. The Camp David Accords marked a major milestone in the Middle East peace process, significantly contributing to the eventual peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.