Oh, the irony. In the Middle East, which birthed three of the world’s greatest religions — Judaism, Christianity and the Islamic faith — there had not been peace for 30 years. And then, in 1978, two leaders from key nations in that war-torn region, Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin, signed the Camp David Accords.
The Accords were so named because the negotiations leading up to them took place at Camp David, Md., the retreat used by every American president since Dwight Eisenhower. Then-President Jimmy Carter had invited Sadat and Begin to Camp David in the hope that, with his help, they could agree to end three decades of war between Israel and its most powerful, most antagonistic Arab neighbor.
Carter’s invitation had not come out of the blue.
In 1978, in a move that had stunned the world, Sadat became the first Arab leader ever to journey to Jerusalem to speak before Israel’s Parliament.
In his speech, Sadat offered peace to the Jewish state under certain conditions, one of which was the return of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, the 23,000 square-mile territory that Israel had captured in the Six-Day War of 1967.
Sadat also wanted peace because constantly fighting Israel had ruined Egypt’s economy and stunted modernization.
It was true that Sadat had led the 1973 attack on Israel during the Yom Kippur Jewish holiday — an attack that caught Israel completely by surprise before it recovered and drove invading Arab armies back — but Sadat had launched that war more as a bargaining chip than as a final victory. As Sadat had hoped, his army acquitted itself well in that war, enhancing both his prestige in the Arab world and his negotiating position with Israel. He believed that it was a propitious moment for a peace overture to Israel.
He was right. Shaken by the Yom Kippur War, Israel was receptive to a genuine peace, so at Camp David, after 12 days of intense, often acrimonious negotiations, Sadat and Begin agreed to Israel’s complete evacuation from the Sinai in return for a peace treaty and a pledge to negotiate Palestinian autonomy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza.
It was among the most historic events of the 20th Century and easily earned Begin and Sadat the Nobel Peace Prize, which they won this week (Oct. 26) in 1978. Alas, it cost Sadat his life – in 1981 he was assassinated by Islamic extremists angered at his agreement with Israel.
But through it all, the peace – cold though it may be – between Egypt and Israel has held, which should serve as a reminder, and rejoinder, to those who say there can never be a peace in the Middle East. There can be, because there has been.
Bruce G. Kauffmann’s e-mail address is bruce@
historylessons.net.
Schools
BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: Leaders sign Camp David Accords
- Schools
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ISU Doctor of Nursing Practice grads develop community programs
When parishioners at Southport United Methodist Church come to worship on Sundays, they can get lessons in health care as well as the spiritual.
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Education students boost internship success with Twitter
Education professors at Indiana State University are emboldening students to use the social media site Twitter to their advantage by exchanging teaching tips and “following” the nation’s leaders in education.
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Indiana State students teach stats to DeVaney Elementary class
Braxton Shelton’s face lit up at the sight of her father walking into her third-grade classroom — along with three Indiana State University students.
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WGU establishes Phi Theta Kappa scholarship Indianapolis
WGU Indiana, the state’s online, nonprofit university established for working adults pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree, has instituted a new scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa honor society members. The university seeks to attract the best and brightest transfer students from two-year colleges/universities to WGU Indiana. Each scholarship is valued up to $2,000.
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Terre Haute Parks taking summer day camp registrations
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department is now taking registration for its Summer Day Camp.
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Goals, Pride & Achievements: May 24, 2012
• Rachel Bowers
• Douglas Collier
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Turkey Run names valedictorian, salutatorian
Cheyenne Chaplain and Jake Lutz have been named valedictorian and salutatorian for the Turkey Run High School Class of 2012. Graduation ceremonies will be in the high school gymnasium at 11 a.m. Saturday with 39 students receiving diplomas.
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Reunion: May 24, 2012.
Terre Haute North Vigo Class of 1992 is planning its 20th class reunion for July 27-28.
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South senior receives Hoosier Heroes award
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Senior Zachary Moore was awarded a $2,000 scholarship at the Hoosier Heroes Celebration on May 10 at UIndy Hall at the University of Indianapolis.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
The Emperor Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire and the man who ended that empire’s persecution of Christianity, died this week (May 22) in 337 AD, having lived a life that would change the world.
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Supporters recognized with March On! award
The Indiana State University Foundation recently honored Todd and Beth Whitaker with its most prestigious award for supporters of the university.
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Woods junior named state Phi Beta Lambda president
When Katelyn Dukes graduates in 2013, she will be a triple threat to her peers.
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Commission makes changes to Arts IN Education grant program
The Indiana Arts Commission announced it will accept applications from teaching artists, as well as Indiana schools for the next round of Arts IN Education grants.
- ACROSS THE WABASH VALLEY: May 24, 2012
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Graduate college in four years? ISU ‘guarantees’ it
Indiana State University has announced a four-year graduation guarantee for students enrolling this fall and beyond.
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Grrrr-ateful for donation
K-9 Officers Jasper, Luka, Diesel and Carón didn’t like the snarls and growls coming from a “burglar” on Monday morning at Sarah Scott Middle School.
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After possible TB case, school faces health tests
A suspected case of tuberculosis at Woodrow Wilson Middle School has prompted health authorities to provide free TB testing next Tuesday for students and staff at the eastside Terre Haute school.
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1,261.5 Miles Per Gallon
A Terre Haute South Vigo High School team earned first place in the “unlimited class” category during the 17th Super Mileage Challenge April 30 in Indianapolis.
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VIDEO: Suspected TB case at Woodrow Wilson
A suspected case of tuberculosis at Woodrow Wilson Middle School has prompted free testing next week for students and staff at the east side Terre Haute school. Testing is not mandatory and parental permission is required for students.
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Stepping Forward
The sound of Mason Unton’s tennis shoes scampering down the hallway of Westfield’s Maple Glen Elementary School was music to the ears of his parents and the three senior Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology biomedical engineering students that designed a device to assist walking movement.
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Bring your appetite to summer reading program
Marshall Public Library launches its “Reading is so Delicious!” summer reading program on Friday, May 18.
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Riverton Parke performs well at Academic Bowl
The Riverton Parke Junior High School Academic Bowl team turned in an impressive performance at the Indiana Academic Super Bowl district contest at Sarah Scott Middle School in Terre Haute on April 28. -
Riley Alumni Banquet planned
The 2012 Riley Alumni Banquet will be June 9 at Riley School Gym.
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BRIEFLY: May 17, 2012
• Nursing composite photos available
• T-shirts support tornado victims
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ISU honors attorney, wife with degree
Indiana State University honored Indianapolis attorney Donald W. Buttrey and his late wife, Karen, with honorary doctoral degrees during spring commencement ceremonies May 5.
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Spring cleaning: Readers’ FAQs
Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”
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Rose selects first Giacoletto recipient
Mark A. Yoder has been selected the first recipient of the Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
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GOALS, PRIDE & ACHIEVEMENT: May 17, 2012
GOALS, PRIDE & ACHIEVEMENT
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Hablo Art day camp for children
Artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo will be featured in artwork at “Hablo Art” Arts and Day Camp for Children from June 18 to 22.
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Chauncey Rose celebration set
A Chauncey Rose Middle School (1972-2012) Farewell Celebration is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the school.
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