May 29, 1979
In a Knesset address, Minister of Foreign Affairs Moshe Dayan recounts the events that have transpired among Israel, the United States and Egypt the past two years, including the Camp David Accords. Throughout his narrative, Dayan emphasizes Israel’s commitment to the peace process with Egypt and the strong diplomatic relationship with the United States. He praises Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for leading Egypt to this important moment. Expressing optimism, his speech presents a message of hope for maintaining the normalization process with Egypt, despite the strain caused by Israel’s continued tensions with Lebanon.
The actual peace treaty between Israel and Egypt was signed just two months before Dayan’s address. The peace treaty lays out a three-year plan for Israel to fully evacuate its citizens and military operations from the Sinai Peninsula. In return for receiving the Sinai, Egypt agrees to normalize diplomatic relations and formally recognize Israel.
Considering the historically tenuous relationship between the Egypt and Israel, the three-year timeframe is precarious. Dayan’s assurances to the world that Israel will maintain its commitment are vital, especially in light of mounting tension with Lebanon, on Israel’s northern border. At the time, Lebanon is host to the PLO and is the source of constant attacks on Israel’s north. Just one month before the Dayan speech, PLO terrorists from Lebanon massacred a policeman and three members of one family in the Israeli beach town of Nahariya. In spite of this attack, Israel did not allow regional affairs to affect its commitment to peace and diplomacy.
Israel completes its withdrawal from the Sinai in April 1982, six months after Sadat’s assassination.
