Israel marks 30 years of peace with Egypt
The peace treaty was signed by Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin on March 26, 1979. Islamists were enraged by Sadat's Sinai treaty with Israel, particularly the radical Egyptian Islamic Jihad.
Unfortunately not long thereafter was Anwar Sadat's assassination on October 6, 1981. He was gunned down at the annual victory parade in Cairo and it was a shock to the democratic world. His successor was then Vice President Hosni Mubarek.
On a recent trip I was able to tour the area and snapped these images of the memorial that was later built in his honor. Peace is the answer and his forward thinking is not forgotten.
(The following has been reported from a JTA.org staff writer)
Egypt's president reiterated his commitment to peace with Israel on the 30th anniversary of the Egypt-Israel peace deal. Speaking by telephone with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said he has no intention of changing his policies with regard to peace with Israel, and that "whoever seeks war has never felt what war really is."
"Here’s to 30 years of peace between our two countries," Peres told Mubarak. "I want to express my deep appreciation for your leadership and your activities on behalf of peace and stability in the Middle East. For years now you have stood steadfastly as a rock, unmovable from your position in support of peace."
Egypt is still mediating talks between Israel and Hamas on a prisoner swap that would include the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit
A prisoner exchange is central to attempts to reach a more lasting truce after Israel's three-week offensive in Gaza ended on Jan. 18 and to help clear the way for reconstruction and humanitarian relief there. The assault against Hamas was intended to stop rocket fire on southern Israel, but sporadic violence has continued.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said last week that excessive demands by Hamas prevented a deal and indicated he would turn the matter over to his successor, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to be sworn in as the new prime minister next week.
Olmert had offered to free 320 prisoners of the 450 Hamas was demanding. The militant group's Syria-based deputy leader, Mousa Abu Marzouk, said on Monday that Israel was trying to change the list of prisoners and wanted to expel some of them from the Palestinian territories.
