Egypt–Israel peace treaty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Egypt–Israel peace treaty

Peace Treaty Between the State of Israel and the Arab Republic of Egypt
Sadat, Carter and Begin at the signing ceremony
Type	Peace treaty
Signed	26 March 1979; 47 years ago (1979-03-26)
Location	Washington, D.C., US
Effective	January 1980; 46 years ago (January 1980)
Signatories	Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt Jimmy Carter, President of the United States
Depositary	Secretary-General of the United Nations
Citations	UNTS 17813
Language	English

The Egypt–Israel peace treaty was an important agreement signed on March 26, 1979. It officially ended the state of war between Egypt and Israel. This historic treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., United States.

The leaders who signed it were Anwar Sadat, who was the President of Egypt, and Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel. Jimmy Carter, the President of the United States, was there to witness this special event. This treaty followed earlier talks known as the Camp David Accords in 1978.

Making Peace: A Look Back

The peace treaty between Egypt and Israel was signed after many discussions. These talks happened about 16 months after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Jerusalem in 1977.

Key Agreements of the Treaty

The treaty had several important parts:

• Both countries officially recognized each other.
• They agreed to end the state of war that had existed since 1948.
• They decided to start normal relations, like having ambassadors.
• Israel agreed to remove its military and people from the Sinai Peninsula. Israel had taken control of Sinai during the Six-Day War in 1967.
• Egypt agreed that the Sinai Peninsula would remain a demilitarized zone. This means no military forces would be stationed there.
• Israeli ships were allowed to pass freely through the Suez Canal.
• The Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba were recognized as international waterways. This meant ships from any country could use them freely. Egypt had blocked these waterways in 1967.

This agreement was a big step. Egypt became the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel. Even though it brought peace, some people called it a "cold peace." This meant relations were peaceful but not always warm or friendly.

Keeping the Peace: How the Treaty Works

Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat at Camp David, 1978.

The treaty set up rules for how Egypt and Israel would interact. These rules helped ensure the peace would last.

Starting Normal Relations

Normal relations between Israel and Egypt began in January 1980.

• In February, both countries sent ambassadors to each other.
• Egypt's parliament removed laws that boycotted Israel.
• Some trade started, and regular airline flights began in March 1980.
• Egypt also started selling crude oil to Israel.

Keeping Sinai Demilitarized

To make sure the Sinai Peninsula stayed demilitarized, a special group was created.

• The United Nations could not provide a peacekeeping force at the time.
• So, Egypt, Israel, and the United States worked together.
• They created the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in 1981.
• The MFO is an observation force. It watches both countries to make sure they follow the treaty rules.

Adjusting Troop Movements

The treaty allows Egypt and Israel to change how many troops are in Sinai. They can do this without changing the treaty itself.

• Israel has agreed to let Egypt send more forces into central and eastern Sinai.
• This happens when there are shared security concerns, like dealing with armed groups in those areas.
• These changes are planned and approved through the MFO.
• For example, in 2011, during protests in Egypt, Israel allowed Egypt to move troops into Sinai.
• In 2012 and 2013, Israel again agreed to more Egyptian troops in Sinai. This was to help fight militant groups.

Free Passage Through Waterways

The treaty also made sure important waterways stayed open for everyone.

• In past conflicts, Egypt had closed the Suez Canal. This caused big problems for trade around the world.
• The peace treaty aimed to prevent this from happening again.
• It states that Israeli ships can pass freely through the Suez Canal. This also applies to ships going to or from Israel.
• Both countries agreed that the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba are international waterways. All nations can use them freely.
• The MFO helps monitor these waterways to ensure free passage.

What Happened After the Treaty?

The Egypt–Israel peace treaty had a big impact on the region.

Reactions in the Arab World

Many countries in the Arab world did not agree with the treaty.

• They felt it was wrong for Egypt to make peace with Israel alone.
• The leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, spoke out against it.
• Despite this, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel won the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. They received it for their efforts to bring peace.
• As a result of the treaty, Egypt was suspended from the Arab League from 1979 to 1989.
• Anwar Sadat was killed in 1981.
• Syrian President Hafez al-Assad ended all relations with Egypt after the treaty. Relations were not restored until 2005.

Long-Term Effects in Egypt

The peace between Egypt and Israel has continued since the treaty began.

• Egypt has become an important partner for Israel in the region.
• The United States started giving economic and military aid to Egypt as part of the agreement.
• From 1978 to 2000, the U.S. provided over $38 billion in aid to Egypt's armed forces. Egypt still receives about $1.3 billion annually.
• Even with peace, relations are sometimes called a "cold peace." Many people in Egypt are still cautious about its effectiveness.
• During the Egyptian revolution of 2011, there were concerns about the treaty's future.
• However, the Egyptian Army, after taking power, stated that Egypt would continue to follow its international agreements.
• In 2014, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised to continue the peace with Israel.
• More recently, during the Gaza War of 2023–2025, Israel took control of the Philadelphi Corridor. This led to disagreements about the treaty's rules for border control. Egypt also did not accept a new Israeli ambassador in September 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de paz egipcio-israelí para niños

• 1949 Armistice Agreements
• Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace (1994)
• List of Middle East peace proposals
• Oslo Accords (1993)
• Yamit