Anwar Sadat, Speech to the Israeli Knesset
20 November 1977 (Translated from Hebrew)

Speaker:  Anwar Sadat
Audience:
  • Delivered his speech in Arabic to the Israeli Knesset (in Hebrew this means "the gathering"or the "assembly". ) This body is responsible to passing all Israeli laws and electing the PM and President
  • The audience was hostile to an extent, as this was the man who had waged war on Israel four years before.

Context:.
  • Sadat succeeded Gamal Abdel NASSER as the third President of Egypt in 1970
  • This had occurred after the fourth conflict in the Arab-Israeli War in 1973, also known as the "October" or "Yom Kippur" war, which lasted from 6th October - 25 October, 1973.  Initially, Egypt and Syria made substantial gains, although the Israeli Army managed to rout the Syrian and Egyptian armies respectively
  • The speech was delivered before the Knesset in 1977, to an audience that was hostile, especially meeting with the President of a country who had invaded Israel four years previously.

Consequences:
  • Egypt was expelled from the Arab League from 1978 - 1989
  • A peace between Israel and Egypt was created, hosted by the US and then President Jimmy Carter, which became known as the Camp David Accords
  • Sadat and Menachem Begin were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
  • Sadat was assassinated by a member of his bodyguard on October 6, 1981
Ideas:
  • Desire for Peace
  • Justice
  • Commonality of humanity
  • Religious similarity (linked to above) as Abrahamic religions
Common techniques used:
  • Religious allusions and references
Picture
Sadat, after arrival to the US
HOMEWORK
Watch the youtube clip on Sadat.  What does this tell you about his context?
Picture
Sadat, Carter and Begin agree to peace, Camp David, 1979
News clip on the Assassination of Sadat