Today in History: The Camp David Accords

On this day (September 17) in 1978, the Camp David Accords were signed establishing the framework that led to peace between Egypt and Israel. The treaty was signed by Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin after 12 days of secret negotiations. U.S. President Jimmy Carter served as mediator. It was in essence a “land for peace” deal. Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula and return it to Egypt and Egypt guaranteed Israel’s access to the Suez Canal and to limit its military presence in Sinai. To sweeten the deal, the U.S. agreed to provide several billion dollars in subsidies each year to both countries.