Jerusalem – Israel’s parliament is holding a special session to mark 40 years since the historic visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
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Sadat’s 1977 address to the Knesset is credited with paving a path for peace between the countries. Two years later Israel and Egypt signed a formal peace accord and Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula it had captured in the 1967 war. They have maintained quiet but close security ties since. Israel later made peace with Jordan too.
Sadat’s visit came just four years after Israel and Egypt fought a bitter war that claimed thousands of casualties.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein opened the event, which was attended by Egyptian ambassador to Israel Hazem Khairat. He called the Sadat address “groundbreaking.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the plenum later.
I watched Sadat’s speech live on television; prior to Menachem Begin introducing President Sadat, he was rudely interrupted by a female member of the Knesset. The latter interruption did not look good on live tv, as it was shown all over the world. Whomever that person was, she showed no derech eretz. In any event, Begin smiled, and turned to Sadat and stated “Mr. President, I’m glad that they interrupted me, and not you”. I remember seeing General Sharon, Moshe Dayan, and Abba Eban, also watching the speech. Sadat’s speech was very moving. Later, Sadat invited Begin to visit him in Egypt. During one visit, Sadat suggested that they ditch their security detail, and ride in Sadat’s car. Sadat personally drove Begin around. They took off at a high rate of speed, much to the annoyance of the Shin Bet, and Sadat’s security detail. Sadat showed Begin a number of Egyptian air bases. At that point, Begin stated “Anwar, why do you need so many planes”. Sadat stated “To protect us from you”. Begin and Sadat had become very close, prior to Sadat’s untimely death. Incidentally, when Sadat visit Israel in 1977, he met Golda Meir, who stated “What took you so long”.
I think we can explain this friendship with Lev Melachim B’Yad Hashem. Jews in Germany also felt strong closeness to the Germans before the war (in late 1800’s: Berlin is the new Jerusalem), and now. But giving Gaza and West Bank to Palestinians who don’t recognize us and want to destroy us, is endangering Israel.
To #2 - Tell me, what did your tasteless article have to do, with Sadat and Begin, and their friendship? Your article was nothing, but sour grapes. As Shimon Peres once stated, “you make peace with your enemies, and not with your friends”.