Middle East Transition

Report Outline
U.S. Role as ‘Full Partner’
Roots of Middle East Conflict
Danger of More Instability
Special Focus

U.S. Role as ‘Full Partner’

Aftermath of the Camp David Agreements

The peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, hammered out at Camp David in September by President Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, remains in limbo. The negotiations that followed in Washington in October were expected to be concluded quickly and a peace treaty signed by this time. But the negotiations have been beset by inumerable proposals and counterproposals, hope and despair and what President Carter referred to as a great deal of squabbling over “little, tiny technicalities.”

It is uncertain at this time when, where or if the treaty negotiations will resume. On Nov. 21, the Israeli Cabinet accepted a compromise draft treaty proposed by the United States, and Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan intimated that his country would accept no changes in the draft treaty. “Take it or leave it,” Dayan said on Nov. 22. President Sadat reportedly was angered by the rejection of his demands for a timetable for Palestinian autonomy on the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip and may be unwilling to “take” the draft treaty as it now stands.

If a treaty is signed, it will virtually rule out a fifth Arab-Israeli war in the foreseeable future. For without Egypt, the other Arab states would be courting certain defeat by attacking Israel. But the settlement achieved in the Maryland mountains has been criticized by Arab moderates and condemned by Arab hard-liners and the Soviet Union. Until at least some of these parties agree to join the negotiations, the comprehensive peace that Carter has advocated since assuming the presidency is likely to remain elusive.