Last Chance to Avoid War

Sadat's Peace Initiative of February 1973 and its Failure

Dados Bibliográficos

ID10074624
AutoresUri Bar-Joseph (International Relations Division, Haifa University), Uri Bar–joseph (University of Haifa, autor correspondente)
Ano2006
Volume41
Fascículo3
Páginas545-556
Data de publicação2006-06-19
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Contemporary History (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-0094 • E-ISSN: 1461-7250
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0022009406064668
OpenAlexW1984872027
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11

Most studies of the attempts to reach a political solution to the Egyptian–Israeli dispute between the wars of 1967 and 1973 focus predominantly on the Jarring mission (1968–71), the Rogers plan (1969–70) and Sadat's plan for a partial agreement in the Canal sector (early 1971). However, as this article shows on the basis of new archival documents, the most important diplomatic initiative during this period was Sadat's proposal for a comprehensive settlement of the Egyptian–Israeli dispute, which was secretly submitted to Kissinger in February 1973. Despite the fact that it met most of Israel's requirements regarding peace, Sadat's proposal was rejected by Golda Meir, who refused to return the territories occupied in 1967. Meir's stand did not change even when, in April 1973, Israel's leadership concluded that the only alternative to the diplomatic process was war — which would break out soon. By making this decision, Golda Meir and her colleagues opted for war rather than peace and turned the October 1973 Yom Kippur War into ‘a war of choice’

Economic history · Economics · Political science · Politics · Settlement (finance · Spanish Civil War · History · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Law · Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts