Detente in the Mideast

Because it was so obvious to those of us who were foreign guests in Egypt just before the Feb. 5 ceasefire renewal that the regime was doing its best to whip up a war psychosis, President Sadat’s sudden announcement of his willingness to negotiate a peace treaty with Israel seemed to hit Cairo like an earthquake.

In the now-famous interview with Newsweek senior editor Arnaud de Borchgrave, Sadat outlined Egypt’s terms: “If Israel returns our land under the Security resolution, we pledge our solemn word on the inviolability and political independence of every state in the area, including Israel. The territorial integrity of Israel in secure and recognized borders will be guaranteed by the Big Four. Israel will enjoy freedom of navigation in the Canal and the Strait [of Tiran], again guaranteed.”

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Taki Theodoracopulos

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Because it was so obvious to those of us who were foreign guests in Egypt just before the Feb. 5 ceasefire renewal that the regime was doing its best to whip up a war psychosis, President Sadat’s sudden announcement of his willingness to negotiate a peace treaty with Israel seemed to hit Cairo like an earthquake.

In the now-famous interview with Newsweek senior editor Arnaud de Borchgrave, Sadat outlined Egypt’s terms: “If Israel returns our land under the Security resolution, we pledge our solemn word on the inviolability and political independence of every state in the area, including Israel. The territorial integrity of Israel in secure and recognized borders will be guaranteed by the Big Four. Israel will enjoy freedom of navigation in the Canal and the Strait [of Tiran], again guaranteed.”