Open AccessHunger for Peace: Egypt's Economic Reasons to Seek Peace with Israel
Author(s) -
Jr. David F. Bradley
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
elements
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2380-6087
pISSN - 2378-0185
DOI - 10.6017/eurj.v3i1.8975
Subject(s) - political science , incentive , order (exchange) , investment (military) , international peace , development economics , economy , law , economics , politics , market economy , finance
In 1978, Egypt's Anwar Al-Sadat launched a historic peace initiative with Israel, ultimately culminating in a peace agreement that, nearly 30 years later, still stands. This paper traces Egypt's economic status under Anwar Al-Sadat and concludes that Sadat, rather than just being an innately peace-loving man, had real economic incentives in seeking peace with Israel. Egypt diverted resources from its infrastructure and its people in order to pay for a heavily armed border with Israel. Hostilities toward Israel also cost the country foreign direct investment and foreign aid from the West. Sadat's desire for peace was literally hunger because his citizens were starving.