[Letters] A peace deal struck between Egypt and Israel

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[Letters] A peace deal struck between Egypt and Israel

Published: 13 Jan. 2012, 00:31

The most significant event in the Middle East peace process to occur for years appears to be just around the corner, and for a change it will play out not between the Israelis and the Palestinians but between Egypt and the West. Some 30 years ago, a peace deal was struck between Egypt and Israel, which boiled down to Israel handing over the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in return for peace.

If, as seems likely, the new, Islamic-leaning leadership in Egypt now reneges on the deal, will the Sinai be returned to Israel?

Whilst it seems improbable that the western guarantors of the peace agreement ensure that this happens, the consequences of it failing to happen are incredibly significant: The Palestinians will see that they can agree to any deal, renege on it and not face any consequences, while the Israelis will notice that only their end of the bargain is deemed permanent, while any commitments made towards them are temporary. That is not the recipe for peace, but in fact the recipe for disaster, and the western world would do well to take note.

Michelle Moshelian, Givatayim, Israel