President Anwar Sadat
January 2, 1978
Taking the Initiative to Make Peace
One of the most courageous leaders in the second half of the twentieth century is Egypt’s
President Anwar Sadat. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been fighting for its survival
against the Arab world. In his November 9, 1977 speech to Egypt’s parliamentary People’s
Assembly, President Anwar Sadat shared his frustration in dealing with Israel in preparation for
upcoming indirect negotiations in Geneva. He reaffirmed Egypt’s position that the lands
conquered by Israel in the 1967 War, including Egypt’s Sinai desert, still belonged to the
conquered Arab nations. He also reaffirmed the rights of the displaced Palestinian people and
their right to their own state and self-determination. He remarked to the Assembly, “I am ready
to go to Geneva. You must have heard me say that I would go to the end of the world to spare an
injury to one of our men, much more the death of one. Israel must be greatly surprised to hear
me say that I am even ready to go to the Knesset [Israel’s parliament] and discuss with them.”
Following the speech, one worried aide asked President Sadat, “Mr. President, what
would be our reaction if Israel actually extended an invitation to you?” Sadat calmly replied, “I
would accept it immediately. I have declared that I would go to the end of the earth. I would go
to Israel, for I want to put before the people of Israel all the facts.”
When days later an invitation was indeed extended by Israel’s leaders, Sadat stayed true
to his word. On November 20, 1977, President Sadat spoke before the Israeli parliament much
to the dismay and consternation of most leaders in the Arab world. He spent three days in the
land of Egypt’s historic enemy. This bold move broke the impasse between Israel and Egypt.
In March, 1978, President Carter served as mediator between President Sadat and Israel’s Prime
Copyright © 2012 Dr. Ken Newberger. Permission for duplication or transmittal is required. www.ResolveChurchConflict.com
Minister, Menachem Begin, to make what started as a bold move a reality. The result was the
Camp David Accords (for which Sadat and Begin each won Nobel Peace Prizes). Based on
these negotiations, a peace treaty between the two nations was signed in 1979. Sadat was hated
by many Islamists for making peace with Israel, and he was assassinated in 1982.
Both Israel and Egypt claimed to be the aggrieved party in their conflict. Yet it was
President Sadat who took a bold step to break out of the recurring cycle of hostility that
characterized the relationship between the two countries. He exhibited the courage to take what
he rightly identified as the “initiative.”
President Carter later served as the mediator to transform this initiative into a peace
accord. In any conflict such an initiative is required to break the cycle of conflict and make
peace.
Copyright © 2012 Dr. Ken Newberger. Permission for duplication or transmittal is required. www.ResolveChurchConflict.com