1. Camp David Accords
following 1973 war opportunities for peace, but also new obstacles
Nixon’s National Security Advisor/Secretary of State began process of ‘shuttle diplomacy’
Kissinger viewed Middle East as a key component in Cold War conflict
peace in the region would undermine Soviet influence

2. Kissinger’s meetings in Jerusalem, Cairo and Damascus led to the signing of Sinai I and Sinai II (1974,1975)
Egyptian and Israeli forces disengaged and a U.N. force was palced between them
a similar disengagement took place on the Golan Heights creating a demilitarized zone

3. Kissinger iniatives failed to lead to any breakthrough in peace process
Kissinger refused to speak with PLO until they accepted Resolution 242
Arafat perceived as being an ally of the Soviets and the PLO supportive of terrorist tactics
in 1974 a group of PFLP fedayeen attacked the village of Qiryat Shemona in Israel - 18 Israelis died, including children

4. more children died in a hostage-taking incident; again Israel retaliated
Palestinian justification for attacks
Arab summit in Algiers following 1973 war made important decisions
PLO sole representative of Palestinian people
Peace could only be achieved through surrender of lands won by Israel in war
Habash’ ‘Rejectionist Front’ broke with the PLO

5. in November 1974 Arafat addressed the U.N. - olive branch and gun
PLO given observer status at U.N.
U.S. now willing to support ‘legitimate interests’ of Palestinians if they accepted Resolution 242 and Israel’s right to exist

6. Israel turns right
trauma of near-defeat in war
Israel ever more dependent on U.S.
Yitzak Rabin elected as new Labour leader, replacing Golda Meir
under Zionist pressure the Rabin government accepted the first Israeli settlements in the West Bank - breaking international law
UN resolution (1975) condemns Zionism as ‘racist’

7. in 1976 protests against Jewish settlements led to the death of six Palestinians - date 30 March became an annual day of protest, ‘Land Day’
commemoration spread to Occupied Territories
heightened sense of Palestinian nationalism
municipal election brought victory to the PLO and nationalist candidates

8. Likud
Israeli commando raid freed Israeli hostages - Entebbe, Uganda
in Israeli elections the right-wing Likud party came to power
Likud was rooted in extremist groups like the Irgun of the 1940’s and found support among the disadvantaged Sephardic community
hardline policy - all lands of Palestine given them by God

9. new PM Menachem Begin
Polish background, Irgun fighter
viewed all enemies as essentially anti-semitic
policy - strong defense
Foreign Minister, Moshe Dayan
Sharon responsible for settlements - within 25 years close to 450,000 Jewish settlers in Palestinian Occupied Territories
water resources of West Bank exploited by Israel

10. Quest for Peace
Jimmy Carter elected U.S. president in 1976
Carter declared his support for a Palestinian ‘homeland’
U.S. and European Community ruled that settlements were illegal
both Sadat and Begin were open to the idea of peace talks
in November Sadat addressed the Knesset

11. Palestinians felt excluded in negotiations - carried out attack on bus near Haifa - 37 Israelis killed
Carter now intervened in the Egyptian/Israeli talks and invited Sadat and Begin to Camp David
Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan accompanied Begin; Carter’s National Security Advisor was Zbigniew Brezinski
after fourteen days of negotiations an aggreement was reached

12. Camp David Accords
formal peace treaty between Israel and Egypt
Isreal withdrew its forces from the Sinai
Egypt received major financial aid from the U.S
Israel recognized ‘legitimate rights’ of Palestinian people and promised ‘full autonomy’ after transitional period
Israel now able to focus on PLO threat from Lebanon