Question

In 3-5 sentences, explain why Egypt made peace with Israel in 1978 and why other Arab countries eventually followed Egypt's example.

Answer 1

Egypt made peace with Israel in 1978 because of a combination of political, economic, and strategic reasons. The ongoing conflict with Israel was draining Egypt's resources and hindering its development, so President Anwar Sadat saw an opportunity for economic growth and political stability through peace. Other Arab countries eventually followed Egypt's example because they realized that a peaceful resolution to the conflict could benefit them economically and geopolitically as well. Additionally, Egypt's decision demonstrated that peace with Israel was possible and paved the way for other Arab nations to negotiate their own peace agreements with Israel.