Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume IX, Arab-Israeli Dispute, August 1978–December 1980, Second, Revised Edition

193. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Carter and Egyptian President Sadat¹

Washington, March 5, 1979, 9:36–9:43 a.m.

PARTICIPANTS

• President Carter
• President Sadat

Exchange of pleasantries.

President Carter: Have you seen Eilts?

Sadat: I saw him² and agreed to your theory.

President Carter: We put forward to the Israelis after 2–3 days of negotiations some suggestions on article 6 and the target date. They were not exactly what you want but should be acceptable to you. Begin just called me³ to say the Cabinet accepted them by a close vote. We have not addressed the time of withdrawal issue nor the question of ambassadors.

I would like to come to Egypt as soon as possible to discuss these items with you as well as the regional security issue and the U.S. interrelationship with Egypt.

Sadat: I told Eilts it would be a great event but let us agree on the treaty first . . . it will be something marvelous.

President Carter: I don’t quite understand your answer. It would be best if I first came to Ismailia.

Sadat: Why not Cairo? What you told me about article 6 and target date, maybe we could invite Begin to come and sign.

President Carter: We are not that close yet. We need to talk first about bilateral and regional security issues, and then we could wrap it up.

Sadat: Would you visit Israel?

President Carter: After visiting you. When would you want me to come?

Sadat: Any time you want.

President Carter: I would plan to leave Wednesday⁴ evening.

Sadat: Thursday here? Very good, very good.

President Carter: In my judgment these proposals can be accepted by you even if they are not exactly what you want. We have to settle in a week or so or simply call the whole thing off.

Sadat: I shall be waiting. When shall we declare it?

President Carter: Wait until you hear from me. I have not discussed it yet with Begin or my people. A little later today Washington time.

Sadat: It will be a great event.

President Carter: If we don’t agree we will let the public know we stand together as partners.

Sadat: Marvelous, marvelous.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 66, Middle East: President Carter’s Trip to Jerusalem and Cairo: 2–4/79. Confidential.
2. Eilts met with Sadat, Mubarak, and Khalil on March 5 to discuss Carter’s conversations with Begin, the proposed U.S. reformulations of Article VI, and the proposed exchange of ambassadors. Sadat informed Eilts that he did not take Begin’s decision to take the U.S. reformulations to the Israeli Cabinet “seriously,” arguing “[a]ll authority rests in Begin’s hands and Cabinet ploy is no more than a cover.” (Telegram 4491 from Cairo, March 5; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840163–2101)
3. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Carter spoke with Begin from 8:55 a.m. to 8:57 a.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials) No memorandum of conversation has been found.
4. March 7.