Egyptian President Shot Dead After Signing Peace Treaty with Israel
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Peace efforts between several Arab countries and Israel often trigger major domestic controversies, especially in countries where the population is known for its strong opposition to Zionism.
Egypt is one of the most tragic examples. President Anwar Sadat (1970-1981) was killed by his own troops, shortly after signing a peace treaty with Israel.
The event took place on October 6, 1981, when Sadat attended a large military parade in Cairo. The parade was held to commemorate the success of Egyptian forces in crossing the Suez Canal and breaking through Israeli defenses during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
Like other national leaders, Sadat sat in the main stand with tight security. No one suspected that something would happen, because military parades usually use weapons without live ammunition. This is standard procedure in many countries.
However, unbeknownst to everyone, Egyptian military forces had been infiltrated by a group that wanted to kill the president. As the convoy of military vehicles passed in front of the stands, a truck stopped. One of the officers on top got out and saluted Sadat.
According to the New York Times, Sadat then returned the salute by standing up. However, the salute turned out to be a ruse. In an instant, three grenades were thrown towards the stands, followed by automatic rifle fire from the troops in the truck. Chaos broke out. Sadat fell on the spot along with a number of other officials and spectators.
President Sadat was immediately rushed to hospital and underwent surgery, but his life could not be saved. He was pronounced dead on the same day, October 6, 1981.
Impact of Peace with Israel
The mastermind behind the attack was Lieutenant Khalid Islambouli, a member of the radical Egyptian Islamic Jihad group. The group emerged as a strong reaction to Sadat’s policies, which were considered a betrayal of the Palestinian struggle.
Since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, Egypt has been one of the Arab countries most vocal in opposing Zionism. The country has repeatedly been involved in wars against Israel, including the Yom Kippur War on October 6, 1973. At that time, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory coinciding with the Jewish Day of Atonement. This attack was also not detected by US intelligence, making it a global sensation.
According to the book Anwar Sadat: visionary who dared (2013), Anwar Sadat’s attitude changed drastically a few years later. On March 26, 1979, he signed the Camp David Peace Treaty with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, witnessed directly by US President Jimmy Carter. Sadat believed that Israel could not be defeated militarily, and peace was the best way for regional stability.
This decision provoked a major wave of rejection at home. Many people, including military and hardline religious groups, considered Sadat to have betrayed the Arab struggle. From this, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group was born, which then planned the assassination of the president.
Although the movement was temporarily suppressed, the traces of the group did not disappear immediately. One of them, Khalid Islambouli, who was also an Egyptian soldier, launched his attack during the 1981 military parade. Islambouli was arrested at the scene. He was later sentenced to death and executed on April 15, 1982.
(fab/fab)