Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty Facts for Kids

The Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty was an important agreement signed in 1979 between Egypt and Israel. It was the first time an Arab country in the Middle East made a peace treaty with Israel. This treaty was a big step towards peace in the region.

What Was the Peace Treaty?
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What Was the Peace Treaty?

The Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty was a formal agreement to end the fighting and establish friendly relations between the two countries. It was signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, helped them reach this agreement.

Why Was It Needed?

For many years, Egypt and Israel had been in conflict. They had fought several wars, including the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Both sides wanted to find a way to stop the fighting and create a more peaceful future.

The Camp David Accords

Before the treaty was signed, President Carter invited Sadat and Begin to a special meeting. This meeting happened in 1978 at Camp David, a quiet retreat in the United States. For nearly two weeks, the leaders talked and negotiated. These talks were called the Camp David Accords. They were difficult, but in the end, they led to two important agreements. One agreement was a framework for peace in the Middle East, and the other was the framework for the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Signing the Treaty

The actual peace treaty was signed on March 26, 1979, in Washington, D.C. It officially ended the state of war between Egypt and Israel. It also set up rules for how the two countries would interact peacefully.

What Did the Treaty Do?

The treaty had several key parts:

Peace and Diplomacy: Both countries agreed to recognize each other and exchange ambassadors. This meant they would have normal diplomatic relations, like most countries do.
Withdrawal from Sinai: Israel agreed to gradually withdraw its forces from the Sinai Peninsula. This land had been captured by Israel from Egypt in the 1967 Six-Day War. The withdrawal was completed by 1982.
Security Arrangements: The treaty included plans for keeping the border safe. This involved having a limited number of troops in certain areas and allowing international peacekeepers to monitor the border.
Free Passage: It also ensured that Israeli ships could pass freely through the Suez Canal, an important waterway.

Impact of the Treaty

The Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty had a huge impact:

First Arab-Israeli Peace: It was the first time an Arab nation officially recognized Israel and made peace. This was a groundbreaking moment.
Nobel Peace Prize: For their efforts, Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.
Egypt and the Arab League: After signing the treaty, Egypt was temporarily removed from the Arab League. This was a group of Arab countries that disagreed with Egypt making a separate peace with Israel. However, Egypt rejoined the Arab League later.

The treaty showed that peace was possible, even after many years of conflict. It remains a very important agreement in the history of the Middle East.