Examining the Success of the Camp David Agreements of 1978
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Assess how far the Camp David Agreements of 1978 can be considered a success.
ESSAY
The Camp David Agreements of 1978 marked a significant moment in the history of the Middle East, particularly in the context of Arab-Israeli relations. The agreements, brokered by Egypt, Israel, and the United States, resulted in the Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt on 26th March 1979. The agreements aimed to resolve disputes between Israel and Arab countries and ultimately led to the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt. However, the success of the Camp David Agreements is a matter of debate and can be assessed from various perspectives.
One key aspect of the Camp David Agreements' success was the establishment of peace between Egypt and Israel. By signing the treaty, Israel agreed to withdraw its armed forces from the Sinai Peninsula, evacuate civilian inhabitants, and restore the territory to Egypt. In return, Egypt recognized Israel's sovereignty and guaranteed freedom of passage through strategic waterways such as the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran. This landmark peace treaty effectively ended decades of hostility between the two nations and contributed to regional stability.
Furthermore, the Camp David Agreements represented a significant diplomatic achievement, as they demonstrated the efficacy of sustained negotiations and international mediation in resolving longstanding conflicts. The involvement of the United States as a mediator was instrumental in bringing the parties together and facilitating dialogue. The diplomatic efforts culminating in the agreements showcased the potential for diplomacy to overcome entrenched enmities and pave the way for peaceful coexistence.
However, the success of the Camp David Agreements was not without its limitations and criticisms. One major drawback was the alienation of Egypt from the broader Arab world following the signing of the peace treaty with Israel. Egypt's suspension from the Arab League and the relocation of the league's headquarters to Tunis underscored the backlash faced by Egypt for its independent actions. The agreements also failed to address key issues such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict comprehensively, leading to criticisms from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and other Arab states.
The exclusion of the Palestinians from the negotiations and the lack of clarity on their rights and self-determination further detracted from the overall success of the Camp David Agreements. The framework proposed for resolving the Palestinian issue was seen as vague and insufficient by many critics, and the failure to address crucial issues such as the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees undermined the potential for a comprehensive and lasting peace settlement.
In conclusion, while the Camp David Agreements of 1978 can be considered a partial success in the sense of achieving peace between Egypt and Israel and demonstrating the possibilities of diplomacy, their limitations in addressing broader regional issues and stakeholders must also be acknowledged. The agreements highlighted the complexities and challenges inherent in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict and underscored the need for inclusive and sustainable peace processes that address the concerns of all parties involved.
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Assess how far the Camp David Agreements of 1978 can be considered a success.
The Camp David Agreements were the result of the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Israel, and the US. It was intended that disputes between Israel and the Arab countries would be resolved, but the outcome on 26th March 1979 led to the Peace of Washington treaty between Israel and Egypt. Israelis managed to ensure the neutrality of the biggest Arab military power. Israel agreed to lose land in return for peace that also benefited Egypt. Israel agreed to withdraw its armed forces from the Sinai, evacuate its civilian inhabitants, and restore it to Egypt. It was agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations between the two countries. Israel would also be guaranteed freedom of passage through the Suez Canal, the Straits of Tiran, and a demilitarised area along the Israeli border. Israel guaranteed free passage between Egypt and Jordan and to return Egypt's oil fields in western Sinai. The US agreed to provide several billion dollars’ worth of annual subsidies to the governments of both Israel and Egypt. It was the first time an Arab state had made an individual peace agreement with Egypt.
However, Egypt’s standing in the Arab world received a huge blow. In 1978, the Arab Summit held in Baghdad condemned Egypt and the Camp David Agreements, and subsequently transferred the Arab League headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. In 1979, Egypt was suspended from the Arab League. There was no longer a united Arab front against Israel, and many Arab countries blamed Egypt for not putting enough pressure on Israel to bring the Palestinian issue to a satisfactory conclusion. President Sadat was assassinated on 6th October 1981 by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. The agreement also reduced the negotiating positions of the other Arab states and Palestinians, who were excluded from the negotiations. It undermined the idea that Israel could only achieve peace with the Arabs if it addressed the Palestinian issue. Carter agreed with Begin’s belief that the West Bank and Gaza were integral parts of Israel. He wanted the summit to succeed and made concessions. The framework was regarded as vague and Begin claimed that Israel would never surrender its claim to sovereignty over the West Bank and Gaza. Many Arabs saw this framework for a comprehensive peace as a failure.
The Palestinian Liberation Organisation was not involved in the negotiations and rejected the agreement, claiming that accepting the proposed five-year transitional period without a future guarantee of the occupied territories gave Israel time to establish further settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. ‘The Framework for Peace in the Middle East’ proposed that Egypt, Israel and Jordan and the representatives of the Palestinian people should negotiate on ‘resolving’ the Palestinian problem. Egypt, Israel, and Jordan should agree on how to set up an elected self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza. The framework failed to mention the status of Jerusalem, nor the Palestinian right of return. The UN General Assembly rejected it because of this, and because the agreement was concluded without the participation of the UN and PLO. This decision fundamentally altered the Carter administration’s position that Israel should withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories subject to minor border adjustments. No mention was made of self-determination for the Palestinians.