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Netanyahu and Abbas are not Begin and Sadat

Documents released from Israel's State Archives this week on the Israel-Egypt peace negotiations reveal the commitment of both leaders to achieve such an agreement, unlike current negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
1980:  President Sadat  of Egypt (1918 - 1981) meets Prime Minister Menachem Begin (1913 - 1992) of Israel for talks on the normalisation of relationships between their two countries. The meeting took place in Aswan in Upper Egypt.  In 1978 both men were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
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This week, on March 26, the State Archives released a series of secret documents to mark the 35th anniversary of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. These documents provide a fascinating glimpse into the turbulent negotiations that preceded the agreement. They also offer a point of comparison for the current negotiations with the Palestinians, which are on the verge of breaking down. Especially noteworthy is the function of leadership and how leaders perceive their historic role on behalf of their respective nations.

When examining the dynamics of these negotiations between Israel and Egypt — with all their crises and high points — the only possible conclusion is that the current talks between Israel and the Palestinians will not end in a permanent agreement or even a framework agreement, for that matter.

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