HIGHLIGHTS OF MAIN EVENTS 1977-1979

1977
20 June	Prime Minister Begin presents his government to the Knesset and wins a vote of confidence.
22 June	Prime Minister Begin accepts an invitation by President Carter to visit Washington on 18-20 July.
27 June	State Department spokesman reiterates Carter administration Middle East policy saying that Israel should negotiate withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza, among other items.
28 June	Israel rejects implications of U.S. statement saying Israel is ready to negotiate every issue.
30 June	President Carter suggests a three week "statement pause" on the Middle East prior to arrival of Begin.
6 July	The U.S. rejects Israeli request to sell 24 Kfir fighter-bombers to Ecuador.
7 July	Prime Minister Begin calls upon Arab leaders to,join him in "political armistice" prior to going to a Geneva peace. conference.
10 July	Following Israeli complaints about Egyptian violations of the Sinai Interim Agreement, Egyptian War Minister Gamasy assures UN forces commander that Egypt will observe all the provisions of the agreement.
13 July	Sadat says he will end the state of war with Israel only after complete Israeli withdrawal and will consider a peace treaty 5 years after last Israeli soldier leaves the territories.
19-21	July Prime Minister Begin and President Carter confer in Washington and reach agreement on the need for Israel to negotiate with the Arab states in the framework of a Geneva conference in the fall of 1977.
22 July	After meeting with UN Secretary General Waldheim, Begin says Israel will agree to the stationing of UN forces in Southern Lebanon after expulsion of PLO forces.
25 July	Returning from the U.S., Premier Begin says there is no Israel-U.S. confrontation.
26 July	Ministerial Committee on Settlements recognizes Kaddum, Ofra and Ma'ale Adurnim as full-fledged settlements eliciting a sharp American reaction to this move.
27 July	In a statement to the Knesset, Premier Begin announces Israel's readiness to participate in a Geneva conference on 10 October.
31 July	Secretary of State Vance leaves on a 12-day visit to the Middle East, bearing U.S. proposals for a Geneva peace conference.
2 August	Sadat and Vance agree on a conference of Foreign Ministers from the Middle East prior to a full scale Geneva conference. Carter administration delays temporarily the submission to Congress of a re quest to sell F-15 fighter-bombers to Saudi Arabia.
4 August	Assad demands an advance formulation of substantive issues for discussion at a reconvened Geneva conference, in talks with Vance he rejects idea of a working group of Foreign Ministers.
8 August	Carter says that if PLO accepts Resolution 242 in its entirety, the U.S. would then start discussions with this organization.
9 August	Israel rejects any idea of PLO participation in the peace negotiations even if it accepts Resolution 242.
10 August	Secretary Vance holds talks in Jerusalem on the proposed Foreign Ministers conference in September. 14 August Israel government announces a policy of equalization of services for residents of the West Bank and the Gaza strip regarding health, welfare and social security.
17 August	Ministerial Committee on Settlements affirms previous approval of three new settlements in the West Bank.
18 August	The U.S. criticizes Israel's decision to equalize services in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the approval of three new settlements.
23 August	President Carter again criticizes Israel on the settlement issue but says the U.S. will not exert any military or other pressure to stop the settlements.
25-30 August	Prime Minister Begin pays an official visit to Rumania, holds important talks with President Nikolae Ceausescu and Premier Martescu. Possibility of a Begin-Sadat meeting is raised.
3-5 September	Arab Foreign Ministers hold summit conference in Cairo, discuss future political moves.
15 September	Foreign Minister Dayan visits Brussels.
17 September	Foreign Minister Dayan makes unscheduled return to Israel to consult with Premier Begin, later continues to the U.S.
23 September	In a meeting with Foreign Minister Dayan, President Carter calls for a single unified Arab delegation at the opening of the Geneva conference, that would contain Palestinians who are not known leaders of the PLO.
26 September	In a meeting with Secretary Vance, Dayan rejects participation of any PLO member in the Arab delegation.
1 October	U.S. and the Soviet Union issue a joint communique on the Middle East, which is welcomed by Arabs and criticized by Israel.
5 October	Carter and Dayan agree on a "working paper" detailing procedures for a Geneva conference. Syria rejects the paper.
10 October	Government approves settlements by six Gush Emunim groups in Samaria.
11 October	Government approves the Israel-U.S. working paper.
18 October	Brzezinski says U.S. has the right to exert leverage on Middle East parties to encourage them to move toward settlement.
19 October	U.S. sends to Cairo an amended version of the Israel-U.S. working paper on Geneva conference. Atherton says Israeli settlements in the territories are an obstacle to peace.
28 October	Israel government launches new economic program, floats the pound and makes it freely convertible, controls on foreign currency abolished.
4 November	Brzezinski proposes Palestinians abandon claim to West Bank state and Israel abandons claim of West Bank sovereignty; West Bank to become an autonomous demilitarized area politically attached to Jordan with Israeli military presence.
6-8 November	Katyusha attacks on Nahariya kill Israeli civilians.
9 November	Israeli jets attack PLO bases near Tyre. President Sadat announces his readiness to come to Jerusalem to address the Knesset.
11 November	Begin broadcasts to the Egyptian people and invites Sadat to Jerusalem for
peace talks.
15 November	Begin sends written invitation to Sadat to come to Jerusalem. Sadat says his trip is a holy mission.
16 November	Sadat confers with Assad prior to trip to Jerusalem.
19 November	Sadat arrives in Israel and receives a state welcoming ceremony at Ben-Gurion airport. Meets with Begin in Jerusalem.
20 November	After praying at al Aksa mosque and a visit to Yad Vashem, Sadat addresses the Knesset calling for Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Sadat and Begin meet again.
21 November	Sadat meets with Knesset factions and in a press conference with Begin calls on Israel to make drastic decisions to reciprocate his visit. Begin-Sadat agreed communique says "no more wars". Sadat leaves for Cairo.
26 November	Sadat calls for the converting of a Cairo preparatory conference to pave the way for Geneva. Israel accepts the invitation.
27-29 November	Foreign Minister Dayan visits West Germany.
30 November	Arab states opposed to Sadat's initiative call for talks in Tripoli.
2-4 December	Premier Begin pays an official visit to Britain.
5 December	Egypt severs diplomatic relations with Syria, Iraq, Libya, Algeria and South Yemen in retaliation for their decision to suspend relations with Egypt in protest against Sadat's initiative. The "rejectionist" Arab states conclude a 5-day summit meeting in Tripoli.
11 December	Secretary Vance holds talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem in the course of a Middle East visit on the eve of the Cairo conference.
12 December	Jordan announces it will not attend Cairo conference.
14 December	Cairo conference opens. Premier Begin arrives in U.S. for talks with President Carter on the Israel. peace plan.
16-17 December	Begin and Carter confer in Washington. Sadat invites Begin for talks with him in Egypt.
20 December	Begin meets with British Prime Minister in London and with representative of President Giscard to discuss the Israel peace plan. Defence Minister Weizman meets with War Minister Gamasy in Egypt.
21 December	Weizman meets with President Sadat.
25 December	Begin and Sadat confer in Ismailiya, agree to constitute Israel-Egypt political and military committees.
26 December	Ismailiya summit concluded with a joint Begin-Sadat press conference. Disagreement over the Palestinian issue prevented a joint communique.
28 December	After hearing a statement from Premier Begin, the Knesset adopts Israel peace plan by 64 votes in favor, 8 against with 40 abstentions.
28 December	Carter praises Begin peace plan, but prefers a Palestinian homeland or entity linked to Jordan.
29 December	Begin welcomes Carter's statement; Sadat says he is disappointed by it.
31 December	Egypt calls on Israel to liquidate the settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza area as prerequisite for a Palestinian self determination there.
1978
1 January	Karnei Shomron settled by Gush Emunim.
3 January	Carter confers with leaders in Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
4 January	Carter and Sadat meet in Aswan, issue the "Aswan proclamation" calling for the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and their participation in the determination of their future.
8 January	Amidst rumors of new settlements in Northern Sinai, the Cabinet announced that no new settlements will be established in Sinai, but existing ones will be strengthened.
9-11 January	Dayan pays an official visit to Italy.
11 January	Israel-Egypt military committee starts talks in Cairo. Weizman meets Sadat in Aswan. Egypt demands total Israeli withdrawal from Sinai.
12 January	Sadat proposes an Israel-Egypt-Jordan-Palestinian committee to discuss security arrangements for the West Bank. Military talks end in Cairo with some progress noted. Dayan meets with Pope Paul VI in Vatican.
15 January	Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamel arrives in Jerusalem for political committee talks. Stresses no change in the Egyptian demand for full withdrawal and a Palestinian state.
16 January	Secretary Vance arrives for political committee talks.
17 January	Political committee opens its talks in Jerusalem. In a dinner speech Begin says "peace cannot be reached by restoring the 1967 borders".
18 January	Sadat recalls Egyptian delegation from political committee talks in Jerusalem. Israel expresses regret over the unexpected move.
19 January	Egyptian press and President Sadat launch attack on Premier Begin personally and on Israeli policy demanding total Israeli withdrawal and a Palestinian state.
22 January	Israel government postpones despatch of Israeli military delegation for talks in Cairo in view of Egyptian demands and vilification campaign. Small Israeli military mission remains in Cairo.
23 January	Begin tells Knesset that Israel will resume the negotiations if Egypt refrains from attacks on him and on Israel.
26 January	U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Atherton arrives in Israel to start shuttle diplomacy for the attainment of an Israel-Egypt declaration of principles prior to resumption of peace talks.
31 January	Military committee talks resume in Cairo, end after two days.
2 February	Carter administration will propose to Congress a package deal for the sale of jet planes to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
3 February	Carter and Sadat hold talks in Camp David on ways to revive the peace talks.
5 February	Egyptian semi-official magazine October calls Mr. Begin Shylock and claims Israel has A-bombs.
8 February	Begin, in Geneva, says sale of U.S. planes to Arab states will impede peace process. Dayan, in New York to offset the Sadat visit, says Israel never gave the U.S. any commitments on settlements in the territories.
9 February	President Carter announces he will meet with Premier Begin in March follow ing his meeting with Dayan.
11 February	Vance calls on Israel to cease settlement activity and to dismantle settlements in the Raflah salient. Sadat meets Labour Party Chairman Peres in Salzburg.
15 February	U.S. threatens to withdraw Israel request for jet planes if Congress blocks sale to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
19-20 February	Israel government discusses the issue of settlements.
20 February	Atherton returns to Israel to resume shuttle diplomacy.
22 February	Dayan says that if Arabs will propose partition of West Bank, Israel would be willing to discuss it.
26 February	Cabinet says no new decisions will be taken on political matters and on settle ments. British Foreign Secretary Owen arrives in Israel for talks.
5 March	Begin says Resolution 242 does not call on Israel to withdraw from West Bank, says he will not want to waste Carter's time on this issue.
6 March	Atherton's shuttle diplomacy ends in a deadlock.
9 March	Defence Minister Weizman holds talks in Washington.
11 March	Arab terrorists hijack buses on the Haifa-Tel Aviv road leaving 37 civilians dead and scores injured. Begin postpones his U.S. visit and Weizman returns home.
13 March	PLO forces flee Southern Lebanon, Beirut calls on UN to ward off an Israeli attack, U.S. declines to cite PLO as responsible for bus attack advises Israel against retaliation.
14 March	Israel Defence Force crosses the Lebanese border, seizes a strip of 7 miles along the border. Begin says IDF will remain in Lebanon until an agreement reached ensuring the area no longer serve as terrorist base.
19 March	IDF takes over entire Southern Lebanon to the Litani River as U.S. seeks Security Council Resolution that will despatch an international force to replace the IDF. Security Council adopts Resolution 425 calling for im mediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon and the stationing of a UN force there.
21-22 March	Begin and Carter hold two days of talks in White House. U.S. and Israel are in disagreement over a number of issues. UN forces arrive in Southern Lebanon.
24 March	Carter details the areas of Israel-U.S. disagreement, calls on Israel to make concessions. Begin returns to Israel.
30 March	Defence Minister Weizman holds talks in Cairo with Sadat and Gamasy.
3-5 April	Dayan visits Rumania and holds talks with President Ceausescu. Israel forces begin to thin out their ranks in Lebanon.
11 April	IDF starts withdrawal from Lebanon.
16 April	Cabinet adopts a positive version of Israel's interpretation of Resolution 242.
17 April	Secretary General Waldheim has talks in Jerusalem. Belgian Foreign Minister Simonet arrives for talks in Israel.
18 April	Dayan is invited to Washington for talks with Vance on how to break the three month-old deadlock in peace talks between Israel and Egypt.
19 April	Yizhak Navon is elected as Israel's fifth President.
24 April	Carter invites Begin to White House reception on 1 May to celebrate Israel's 30th anniversary. Carter and Vance say they will not compromise on package deal of sale of jet fighters to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
26-27 April	Dayan confers with Vance, suggests that new approach on talks with Egypt be adopted, gets two questions from the U.S. on future status of the West Bank and Gaza and the role of Palestinians in the determination of their future.
1 May	Begin and Carter meet at White House on occasion of Israel's 30th anniversary celebrations. Begin then leaves on a 9 day tour of Jewish communities in the U.S.
11 May	Israel celebrates its Thirtieth Independence Day. Sadat proposes that Israel return Gaza to Egypt and the West Bank to Jordan and then security for Israel would be discussed.
8-16 May	Dayan visits Britain and the Scandinavian countries.
16 May	Senate approves the sale of warplanes to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Israel expresses its regret, Arab leaders are pleased.
22 May	Israel announces it will complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by 13 June. Cabinet fears the sale of U.S. jets to Saudi Arabia and Egypt could upset regional balance of power.
29 May	In his inaugural address, President Navon calls upon Sadat to renew the peace talks.
13 June	IDF completes withdrawal from Lebanon.
18 June	Cabinet decides, in reply to U.S. questions, that future relationship with West Bank and Gaza will be discussed after five years of autonomy. Weizman opposes majority position.
22 June	U.S. expresses its regret over the position of Israel.
30 June-3 July	U.S. Vice President Mondale visits Israel.
9 July	Labour Party Chairman Peres meets with President Sadat in Salzburg.
9 July	Egypt transmits to Israel its Six Point Peace Plan based on the return of Gaza to Egypt and the West Bank to Jordan, Israel rejects the plan.
13 July	Defence Minister Weizman meets with President Sadat in Salzburg. Sadat requests unilateral Israeli gestures (early withdrawal from El-Arish and St. Catharine).
17-20 July	The Leeds Castle Conference between Dayan, Kamel and Vance. Israel agrees to discuss, following a five year transition period, the question of the sovereignty in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza region.
27 July	The Israeli military mission is withdrawn from Egypt at the latter's request. Sadat announces he will halt negotiations unless Israel makes a basic change in its position and demands active U.S. participation in the talks.
5-7 August	Secretary Vance visits Israel and Egypt, and following his talks Sadat and Begin agree to take part in the Camp David summit starting 5 September.
17 August	President Carter announces that the U.S. will be a full and equal partner in the Camp David talks.
27 August	The Israel Government decides to authorize the Israel delegation to Camp David to present an autonomy plan as the basis for a settlement in the West Bank and Gaza
3 September	Prime Minister Begin leading the Israeli delegation leaves for Camp David.
6-17 September	The Camp David conference ends in the signing, at the White House, of two agreements: the first dealing with an Israel-Egypt peace treaty and the restoration of Sinai to the latter; the second - a-framework agreement establishing a format for negotiations on a 5 year autonomy regime in the West Bank and the Gaza region. Israel-Egypt peace talks to begin shortly with an aim of signing the treaty no later than 17 December.
25 September	The Israel Government approves the Camp David agreements by an 11-2 vote. Commerce and Industry Minister Hurwitz resigns.
27 September	The Knesset approves the Camp David agreement by a vote of 84 for, 19 against, 17 abstentions.
12 October	Opening of the talks at Blair House on the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Talks run into difficulties over the linkage between the treaty and developments in the West Bank and Gaza; oil supply for Israel, a target date for the establishment of the autonomy and Egypt's demands for early Israeli withdrawal.
22 October	Foreign and Defence Ministers Dayan and Weizman report to the Israel Government on the talks and present a draft peace treaty.
25 October	The Government approves the draft agreement (15 Ministers in favour, 2 abstain). The talks resume in Washington. The Government also approved the "thickening" of existing Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria.
27 October	President Sadat and Premier Begin win the Nobel Peace prize.
10 November	The draft Treaty of Peace between Israel and Egypt is made public.
21 November	The Israel Government adopts the text of the Peace Treaty, but Egypt introduces new demands regarding the stages of withdrawal from Sinai and the oil rights Israel is to have on wells it discovered and developed in Sinai.
8 December	Former Prime Minister Golda Meir dies in Jerusalem.
10 December	The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Begin and to Sayed Marei (representing Sadat) in Oslo.
12 December	Secretary Vance arrives in Israel for another shuttle mission. The issues still in dispute are amending the text of Articles 4(4), 6(2), 6(5) of the draft treaty; the target date, exchange of ambassadors, Egyptian demands for unilateral Israeli gestures. Israel blames the U.S. for siding with Egypt. The U.S. blames Israel for lack of progress in the talks.
23 December	The Brussels meeting between Premier Khalil, Foreign Minister Dayan and Secretary Vance yields no progress.
28 December	The Prime Minister of Swaziland arrives for a five day visit.
31 December	The Israel Government adopts a resolution expressing readiness to continue with the talks on the issues still separating Israel from Egypt.
1979
24 January	Roving Ambassador Atherton visits the Middle East in an effort to try and find a common denominator for the differing Israeli and Egyptian interpretations of the outstanding issues.
22-25 February	Premier Khalil and Foreign Minister Dayan meet in Camp David. Dayan is presented by the U.S. with a draft of a letter to be addresses to President Carter signed by Sadat and Begin. Israel refuses to sign such a letter arguing it distorts the Camp David agreement. Camp David II ends with no agreement.
25 February	To break the dead-lock, President Carter invites Prime Ministers Begin and Khalil to meet with him in Washington.
27 February	Israel rejects the Carter invitation and decides not to participate in the proposed meeting with Premier Khalil. Begin expresses readiness to meet with President Carter alone.
28 February	President Carter invites Begin for talks in Washington.
1-4 March	Begin-Carter talks in the White House. After initial serious disagreement, a last minute solution is reached on some remaining issues.
7 March	President Carter announces he will visit Israel and Egypt in a last minute ef fort to tie up the treaty.
10-13 March	President Carter visits Israel and wins additional concessions from Israel.
14 March	President Sadat accepts the last minute changes brought from Jerusalem by President Carter, thus paving the way for the signing of the peace treaty.
19 March	The Israel Government approves the text of the peace treaty.
22 March	The Knesset approves the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty, by a vote of 95 for, 18 against, 2 abstentions, 3 absent.
26 March	The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty is signed at the White House.
2-3 April	Prime Minister Begin pays an official visit to Cairo, meets with President Sadat.