On November 20, 1977, following secret negotiations mediated by Romania, and following an announcement in the National Assembly that he would be willing to go to Israel and speak in the Knesset to plead the case for peace, Egyptian President Anwar as Sadat came to Jerusalem and delivered the speech below in the Israeli Knesset. Sadat spoke in Arabic. This is the transcript of the translation issued by the office of the President of Egypt, which seems to omit certain passages, but it is the most complete text available.
It was the first time ever that an Arab leader had openly visited Israel, though Jordan’s King Hussein had been to Israel and met with Israeli leaders in secret on several occasions. Sadat’s visit and speech gave Israelis confidence that the peace offer was genuine, and formed the basis of public pressure in Israel to make the needed concessions.
Sadat insisted on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, which are now in Israeli territory and do not exist for the most part, and on other Palestinian rights, but eventually relented. In part this was due to the utter refusal of the Palestinians to participate in the peace process (see PLO Six Point Program ) as well as to the stubbornness of Israel Prime Minister Menachem Begin.
Owing in no small measure to the impetus created by Sadat’s visit, Israel and Egypt ultimately signed a peace agreement (see Peace Treaty Between Israel and Egypt ).
– Introduction by Ami Isseroff