Israel-Egypt Agreements of 1974–1975 in the Context of Regional and International Relations: A New Perspective

Affiliation:
Center for Israel and Diaspora studies
Discovery Routes – Israeli Experience through History, Art and Culture
Address: Israel, Jerusalem,

Journal name

Novaia i noveishaia istoriia

Edition

Issue 6

Pages

149-164

Abstract

After the October 1973 War president Sadat had come to realize the United States alone could lead to an Israeli withdrawal from the territories it occupying during the June 1967 War. For although the Soviet Union supplied Egypt with the desirable types and amounts of weapons, Moscow had no impact on Israeli policy. US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger saw the United States gaining clout in the Middle East while pushing the Soviet Union out of the region. Kissinger succeeded to bring about the signing of two separation of forces agreements between Israel and Egypt, in January 1974 and in September 1975; the second Disengagement Agreement even placed American troops in the Sinai Peninsula to monitor the demilitarized zones established between the two countries. In both cases the United States had resorted to exerting pressure on the Israeli government lead by Golda Meir (in 1974) and Yitzhak Rabin (in 1975) by denying financial aid and holding no discussions on weapon transactions. Neither in 1974 nor in 1975 president Sadat was willing to recognize Israel or to sign a peace agreement with the Jewish state. In fact, he was involved in a “step-by-step peace process” with the United States rather than with Israel. American administration had no doubt that Israel would have no choice but “to pay the bills”, whatever they would be.

Keywords

Yom Kippur War, October War (1973), Sinai Disengagement Agreements, Sinai Separation of Forces Agreements, Henry A. Kissinger, shuttle diplomacy, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Anwar Sadat, Egypt, Israel, USA, peace process, international relations, Arab-Israeli conflict

Received

29.06.2021

Publication date

19.10.2021

Number of characters

50397

Cite

GOST	Epstein A. Israel-Egypt Agreements of 1974–1975 in the Context of Regional and International Relations: A New Perspective // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2021. – Issue 6 C. 149-164 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640017187-3-1 (circulation date: 18.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640017187-3
MLA	Epstein, Alek "Israel-Egypt Agreements of 1974–1975 in the Context of Regional and International Relations: A New Perspective." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 6 (2021):149-164. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640017187-3
APA	Epstein A. (2021). Israel-Egypt Agreements of 1974–1975 in the Context of Regional and International Relations: A New Perspective. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (6), pp.149-164 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640017187-3

1 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 1, views: 768

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Epstein A.D. Vyzhit’ i vystoiat’: Izrail’ v Organizatsii Ob’’edinennykh Natsii. Pervye chetvert’ veka [Mission of Survival: Israel at the United Nations, 1947–1973]. Jerusalem – Sankt-Peterburg, 2021. (In Russ.)

2. Nosenko T., Semenchenko N. Naprasnaia vrazhda. Ocherki sovetsko-izrail’skikh otnoshenii, 1948–1991 gg. [A Futile Feud. Essays on Soviet–Israeli Relations, 1948–1991]. Moskva, 2015. (In Russ.)

3. Primakov E. Konfidentsial’no. Blizhnii Vostok na stsene i za kulisami. 2 e izdanie [Confidential: The Middle East on Stage and Behind the Scenes. 2nd edition]. Moskva, 2012. (In Russ)

4. SSSR i blizhnevostochnoe uregulirovanie, 1967–1988. Dokumenty i materialy [The USSR and the Middle East Settlement, 1967–1988. Documents and Materials]. Moskva, 1989. (In Russ.)

5. Dayan M. Avney derekh. Otobiyografya [Story of My Life]. Jerusalem, 1976. (In Hebrew)

6. Golan S. Hafradat kokhot btsel hatasha [Separation of Forces in Sinai and Golan Heights, 1974]. Tel-Aviv, 2019. (In Hebrew)

7. Goldstein Y. Rabin. Biografya [Rabin. Biography]. Tel-Aviv, 2006. (In Hebrew)

8. Bar-Siman-Tov Y. Israel and the Peace Process, 1977–1982. Albany, 1994.

9. Boutros-Ghali B. Egypt’s Road to Jerusalem: A Diplomat’s Story of the Struggle for Peace in the Middle East. New York, 1997.

10. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976. Vol. XXIV. Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972. Washington: Department of State, 2008.

11. Gat M. Kissinger, the Architect of Sinai-2 Agreement between Israel and Egypt, September 1975 // Athens Journal of History. 2016. 2 (4). P. 239–248.

12. Golan M. The Secret Conversations of Henry Kissinger: Step-by-step Diplomacy in the Middle East. Toronto, 1976.

13. Kissinger H. Years of Upheaval. London, 1982.

14. Meir G. My Life. London, 1975.

15. Quandt W.B. Camp David. Peacemaking and Politics. Washington, 1986.

16. Sachar H.M. History of Israel: From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time. 3rd edition. New York, 2007.

17. Stein K.W. Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin, and the Quest for Arab–Israeli Peace. New York, 1999.

18. Touval S. The Peace Brokers: Mediators in the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1948–1979. Princeton, 1982.

19. Zubok V. A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev. Chapel Hill, 2007.