April 2010
Egyptian Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Omar Metwally: The role of President Sadat inachieving peace between Egypt and Israel in the late 1970s, and the current challenges facing the peace process in the Middle East
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the embassy of Egypt this evening. I would like first to thank the Capital Jewish Forum for providing me with the opportunity to share with this distinguished audience some thoughts about the Role of President Sadat in achieving peace between Egypt and Israel in the late 1970s, and the current challenges facing the peace process in the Middle East.
I am very much convinced that a final and just settlement of the Arab Israeli conflict is central to security and stability of the international community, therefore the Middle East peace process requires full appreciation of the past, full understanding of the present and farsighted vision for the future.
Throughout time, the decisions made by leaders have dramatically changed the course of history. While some people say that peace is an impossible dream in the Middle East, there are people who defy great odds to broker peace in a war-torn land. For sure, President Anwar Al Sadat is one of them, and his decision to make peace with Israel is a clear example.
President Sadat is considered a pioneer of peace not only in the Middle East but also all over the world because of his display of courage and flexibility in dealing with the Arab – Israeli conflict. He was willing to ignore past Arab-Israeli hatreds, and was daring enough to do what had been unthinkable in the area, as he expressed his willingness to have normal relations with Israel if it opts to the road of peace.
Sadat sought the way of peace since he came to power in late 1970, but when his attempt to launch peace negotiations in 1971 failed, he launched the October War 1973 to liberate Sinai and strengthen the bargaining position of Egypt in the peace negotiations with Israel. The outcome of that war made Israel recognize the importance of peace to all peoples in the region.
His willingness and dedication to peace led to the first peace treaty between the Arabs and Israel signed at the White House on March 26, 1979. His aim was to remove and shatter all barriers of doubt, mistrust, hatred and fear between the two sides in order to end many decades of confrontation and launch a new era of coexistence and cooperation.
The point of the treaty was to, not only create peace between Israel and Egypt, but also between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The desired result of the treaty was to bring the war atmosphere to an end, and to establish peace where everyone can live safely. The treaty asks that Israel withdraws from Arab lands, under the circumstances that the Arab population accepts the existence of Israel.
No one can deny the impact of his historic visit to Jerusalem in 1977, where he met with the Israeli leaders and addressed the Knesset. Sadat took this action against the wishes and advice of his fellow Arab leaders. This action signaled the beginning of Egyptian interest in seeking a diplomatic solution over another military engagement. I would like to quote an excerpt from his speech delivered to the Israeli Knesset.
“For the sake of them all, for the sake of the lives of all our sons and brothers, for the sake of affording our communities the opportunity to work for the progress and happiness of man, feeling secure and with the right to a dignified life, for the generations to come, for a smile on the face of every child born in our land, for all that I have taken my decision to come to you, despite all the hazards, to deliver my address.”
The most important lesson we can learn from the life of Anwar Al Sadat is to Work for peace even if it is costly. Working for peace cost Sadat his life. Extremists from both sides were not happy with what he did. His former allies abandoned him and did not even attend his funeral. But his legacy showed that even in a very bleak situation such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, peace is very possible. I know that it takes years (probably decades) to erase hostile feelings and deeply rooted international conflicts. Yet, peace is possible if only leaders would give it a chance.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Middle East suffers from the absence of the political justice. Palestine is the imminent example. If justice is absent, peace shall be eliminated from the region and the rage and frustration shall increase. We still have to say that the disregard of the Palestinians justice is a very dangerous and frustrating matter.
The Arab world is ready to make peace with Israel. The imminent proof thereof is the Arab Peace initiative unanimously approved during the Summit of Beirut 2002. There is no battle with Jews but the problem is the occupation by Israel to the Arab territories and the abstention of the Israeli occupation to establish the state of Palestine on the whole occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem.
The Arab Peace Initiative is very crucial in the history of the region, as it offers Israel recognition, normalization and an end to the conflict. It is a clear expression that the Arabs are ready to implement their side of the deal. The initiative is a good base for the Arab Israeli conflict to be resolved through the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The main elements of the initiative are:
(a) Israel has to withdraw completely from the occupied Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the 4 June 1967 line and the territories still occupied in southern Lebanon;
(b) A just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees to be agreed upon in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution No 194.
(c) The establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since 4 June 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In return, the Arab states will do the following: (a) Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over, sign a peace agreement with Israel, and achieve peace for all states in the region; (b) Establish normal relations with Israel within the framework of this comprehensive peace.
I am sure that every peace-lover on earth is deeply concerned about the Israeli policies in East Jerusalem and its surroundings. Such policies include house demolitions and inhabitants’ displacement, as well as the continuation of different settlement activities, which affects negatively the situation in Jerusalem and its surroundings. They also have crucial repercussions on security and stability, threatening the opportunity of establishing the independent Palestinian state and the two-state solution that Egypt and the international community seek to reach.
The international community should step in and exert serious efforts to lift up the unjust Israeli siege on Gaza, which hinder the partial restorations of the different buildings and houses, and seriously affect the civilians in the Strip. Israel has to adopt clear and tangible procedures for lifting blockades in the West Bank and to end settlement activity entirely, as they have passive impact on the Palestinian capability to live, contact and work.
There is now an international consensus that the vision of a two-state solution should prevail, and an independent Palestinian state lives side by side with the Israeli State in peace and security, as it is the real and only guarantee for the security, stability and peace in the region and all over the world. Therefore, both sides have to adopt steps to rebuild mutual trust in preparation for serious negotiation that abides by achieving peace within a context of a set time.
The main focus of Egypt is to assist in achieving a permanent and comprehensive peaceful settlement in the region, thus we are against any move to bring back the concept of the land is a God-given right or divinely gifted to any of the conflicting parties, as it leads to turn the issue from a political conflict to a perpetual religious conflict.
This concept acts against the interests of all peoples and jeopardizes the powers that call for moderation, negotiation, and reaching a political settlement that ensures the achievement of a peace based upon justice other than surrender.
Egypt will keep exerting its own efforts and supporting the US and international exertion for achieving peace throughout the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. Egypt played a pivotal role - within the Arab League deliberations - in convincing the Arab countries to respond positively to the American initiative of the proxy talks between the Palestinian authority and Israel, but the Israeli government, unfortunately, responded by announcing that 1,600 settlement units will be constructed in East Jerusalem in the middle of US Vice President Joseph Biden's visit to Israel.
In this regard, I would like to commend the United States for its stance regarding settlements as declared by President Obama and his top aides. I think all parties should seize the current opportunity to begin serious talks to bring a new era of peace and stability in the region.
These are my opening remarks and I will be happy to listen to your comments. Thank-you.
It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the embassy of Egypt this evening. I would like first to thank the Capital Jewish Forum for providing me with the opportunity to share with this distinguished audience some thoughts about the Role of President Sadat in achieving peace between Egypt and Israel in the late 1970s, and the current challenges facing the peace process in the Middle East.
I am very much convinced that a final and just settlement of the Arab Israeli conflict is central to security and stability of the international community, therefore the Middle East peace process requires full appreciation of the past, full understanding of the present and farsighted vision for the future.
Throughout time, the decisions made by leaders have dramatically changed the course of history. While some people say that peace is an impossible dream in the Middle East, there are people who defy great odds to broker peace in a war-torn land. For sure, President Anwar Al Sadat is one of them, and his decision to make peace with Israel is a clear example.
President Sadat is considered a pioneer of peace not only in the Middle East but also all over the world because of his display of courage and flexibility in dealing with the Arab – Israeli conflict. He was willing to ignore past Arab-Israeli hatreds, and was daring enough to do what had been unthinkable in the area, as he expressed his willingness to have normal relations with Israel if it opts to the road of peace.
Sadat sought the way of peace since he came to power in late 1970, but when his attempt to launch peace negotiations in 1971 failed, he launched the October War 1973 to liberate Sinai and strengthen the bargaining position of Egypt in the peace negotiations with Israel. The outcome of that war made Israel recognize the importance of peace to all peoples in the region.
His willingness and dedication to peace led to the first peace treaty between the Arabs and Israel signed at the White House on March 26, 1979. His aim was to remove and shatter all barriers of doubt, mistrust, hatred and fear between the two sides in order to end many decades of confrontation and launch a new era of coexistence and cooperation.
The point of the treaty was to, not only create peace between Israel and Egypt, but also between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The desired result of the treaty was to bring the war atmosphere to an end, and to establish peace where everyone can live safely. The treaty asks that Israel withdraws from Arab lands, under the circumstances that the Arab population accepts the existence of Israel.
No one can deny the impact of his historic visit to Jerusalem in 1977, where he met with the Israeli leaders and addressed the Knesset. Sadat took this action against the wishes and advice of his fellow Arab leaders. This action signaled the beginning of Egyptian interest in seeking a diplomatic solution over another military engagement. I would like to quote an excerpt from his speech delivered to the Israeli Knesset.
“For the sake of them all, for the sake of the lives of all our sons and brothers, for the sake of affording our communities the opportunity to work for the progress and happiness of man, feeling secure and with the right to a dignified life, for the generations to come, for a smile on the face of every child born in our land, for all that I have taken my decision to come to you, despite all the hazards, to deliver my address.”
The most important lesson we can learn from the life of Anwar Al Sadat is to Work for peace even if it is costly. Working for peace cost Sadat his life. Extremists from both sides were not happy with what he did. His former allies abandoned him and did not even attend his funeral. But his legacy showed that even in a very bleak situation such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, peace is very possible. I know that it takes years (probably decades) to erase hostile feelings and deeply rooted international conflicts. Yet, peace is possible if only leaders would give it a chance.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Middle East suffers from the absence of the political justice. Palestine is the imminent example. If justice is absent, peace shall be eliminated from the region and the rage and frustration shall increase. We still have to say that the disregard of the Palestinians justice is a very dangerous and frustrating matter.
The Arab world is ready to make peace with Israel. The imminent proof thereof is the Arab Peace initiative unanimously approved during the Summit of Beirut 2002. There is no battle with Jews but the problem is the occupation by Israel to the Arab territories and the abstention of the Israeli occupation to establish the state of Palestine on the whole occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem.
The Arab Peace Initiative is very crucial in the history of the region, as it offers Israel recognition, normalization and an end to the conflict. It is a clear expression that the Arabs are ready to implement their side of the deal. The initiative is a good base for the Arab Israeli conflict to be resolved through the establishment of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The main elements of the initiative are:
(a) Israel has to withdraw completely from the occupied Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the 4 June 1967 line and the territories still occupied in southern Lebanon;
(b) A just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees to be agreed upon in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution No 194.
(c) The establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since 4 June 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In return, the Arab states will do the following: (a) Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over, sign a peace agreement with Israel, and achieve peace for all states in the region; (b) Establish normal relations with Israel within the framework of this comprehensive peace.
I am sure that every peace-lover on earth is deeply concerned about the Israeli policies in East Jerusalem and its surroundings. Such policies include house demolitions and inhabitants’ displacement, as well as the continuation of different settlement activities, which affects negatively the situation in Jerusalem and its surroundings. They also have crucial repercussions on security and stability, threatening the opportunity of establishing the independent Palestinian state and the two-state solution that Egypt and the international community seek to reach.
The international community should step in and exert serious efforts to lift up the unjust Israeli siege on Gaza, which hinder the partial restorations of the different buildings and houses, and seriously affect the civilians in the Strip. Israel has to adopt clear and tangible procedures for lifting blockades in the West Bank and to end settlement activity entirely, as they have passive impact on the Palestinian capability to live, contact and work.
There is now an international consensus that the vision of a two-state solution should prevail, and an independent Palestinian state lives side by side with the Israeli State in peace and security, as it is the real and only guarantee for the security, stability and peace in the region and all over the world. Therefore, both sides have to adopt steps to rebuild mutual trust in preparation for serious negotiation that abides by achieving peace within a context of a set time.
The main focus of Egypt is to assist in achieving a permanent and comprehensive peaceful settlement in the region, thus we are against any move to bring back the concept of the land is a God-given right or divinely gifted to any of the conflicting parties, as it leads to turn the issue from a political conflict to a perpetual religious conflict.
This concept acts against the interests of all peoples and jeopardizes the powers that call for moderation, negotiation, and reaching a political settlement that ensures the achievement of a peace based upon justice other than surrender.
Egypt will keep exerting its own efforts and supporting the US and international exertion for achieving peace throughout the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. Egypt played a pivotal role - within the Arab League deliberations - in convincing the Arab countries to respond positively to the American initiative of the proxy talks between the Palestinian authority and Israel, but the Israeli government, unfortunately, responded by announcing that 1,600 settlement units will be constructed in East Jerusalem in the middle of US Vice President Joseph Biden's visit to Israel.
In this regard, I would like to commend the United States for its stance regarding settlements as declared by President Obama and his top aides. I think all parties should seize the current opportunity to begin serious talks to bring a new era of peace and stability in the region.
These are my opening remarks and I will be happy to listen to your comments. Thank-you.
