54 | DECEMBER 17 • 2020 

Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

The Camp David Accords
T

he historic “
Abraham Accords” 
were announced on Aug. 13, 
2020. Israel signed “normaliza-
tion agreements” with the United Arab 
Emirates and Bahrain. Later, Sudan and 
Morocco joined the process. This event 
was significant and a source of reports 
and essays for media in 
the U.S., Israel and around 
the world. Two weeks ago, 
the JN featured an analysis 
of the Accords by Dana 
Regev and an essay from 
former managing editor 
of the Jewish Telegraph 
Agency, Howard Lovy. 
The overwhelming 
majority of observers believe that the 
Accords constitute a positive step for-
ward for Israel; however, the magnitude 
of the agreements is still unknown. Will 
the accords spur other Middle Eastern 
nations to normalize relations with 
Israel? Will the participants fulfill their 
commitments? How does this affect 
Israeli-Palestinian relations? Regardless 
of the many questions surrounding the 
implementation of the agreements, the 
Abraham Accords are indeed a historic 
moment in time.
The Accords represent the first peace 
agreements for Israel with Arab nations 
since it signed pacts with Egypt in 1979 
and Jordan in 1994. This raised a ques-
tion — how were those two historical 
events covered in the JN? So, I dove into 
The William Davidson Digital Archive 
of Jewish Detroit History for answers.
The blockbuster, pathbreaking agree-
ment was the one between Israel and 
Egypt, the largest Arab nation in the 
Middle East and the nation that fought 
several major wars with Israel beginning 
in 1948. This agreement, the “Camp 
David Accords,” was reached during 
negotiations between Israeli Prime 
Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian 
President Anwar Sadat, led by President 

Jimmy Carter at the presidential retreat, 
Camp David, in 1978. The normaliza-
tion pact was formally signed in 1979. 
The JN covered the Camp David 
Accords from start to finish. The front 
pages in September 1978 were dominated 
by headlines and photographs related to 
the negotiations: “Wishes for Continuing 
Talks Dominate Camp David Drama” 
(Sept. 1); “Jimmy Carter Hails Begin 
Before Camp David Summit” (Sept. 
8); “Optimism Echoes at Camp David 
Summit”(Sept. 15); and finally, on Sept. 
22, the front page had a photo of Carter, 
Begin and Sadat signing the agreements, 
and page 2 featured an in-depth report 
about the statements from each partic-
ipant and an essay from editor Philip 
Slomovitz. The JN editorial for that week 
was “‘Shalom, ‘Salaam,’ ‘Peace,’ Reality.” 
The front page of the JN for Oct. 3, 1979, 
was devoted to the formal signing of the 
agreement.
It is interesting that, while certainly 
important, Israel’s peace agreement with 
Jordan did not receive extensive cover-
age. Of course, Jordan is a much smaller, 
decidedly less powerful nation, and 
Israel had already ongoing relations with 
Jordan’s King Hussein. The first mention 
of formal negotiations was a small item 
on page 35 of the June 24, 1994, issue of 
the JN: “Israel, Jordan Eye Agreement.” 
Peace negotiations only made one 
appearance on the front page of the July 
7 issue of the JN. Otherwise, only a few 
small items on the agreements can be 
found.
Nevertheless, despite occasional 
issues, peace between Israel, Egypt and 
Jordan has held for many years. Let us 
hope that the Abraham Accords do as 
well, and that they are just the tip of the 
diplomatic iceberg toward normaliza-
tion in the Middle East at-large. 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation 
archives, available for free at www.djnfounda-
tion.org.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

pages in September 1978 were dominated 

Israel had already ongoing relations with 
Jordan’s King Hussein. The first mention 

appearance on the front page of the July 

. Otherwise, only a few 

issues, peace between Israel, Egypt and 

well, and that they are just the tip of the 

Go to the DJN Foundation 

