The Israel-Egypt peace treaty was signed in Washington on March 26, 1979. It consisted of Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula including its oil wells and strategic location, dismantling Israeli Settlements and removing (in some instances such as Yamit forcefully), the Jewish population of the area, in exchange for Egypt recognizing Israel's right to exist and pledging not to attack it again. Also involved was an arrangement of autonomy for the Palestinian population of the disputed Israeli territories of the West Bank (known as Judea and Samaria in Israel) and the Gaza Strip. The agreement notably made Egypt the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel (Jordan would follow in 1994 with the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace), for which it was rewarded with billions of dollars in yearly aid from the United States.
External links
- Text of the Treaty, at the site of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Text of the Treaty, at the site of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs