Volumes four and five of the series Israel's Foreign Relations are devoted almost exclusively to the negotiations that led to the signing of the Camp David Agreements and the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. These volumes covers the first two years of the first Begin Administration (1977-1979). Perhaps more than ever, the documents presented here are essential for an understanding of the dramatic events that took place in the period under review. Although all the documents have been published before, they are brought together and placed in a historical context with the help of editorial notes placed before each one of them.
The documents appeared previously in various forms. Most of them were, in their original form, Press Bulletins issued by the Israel Government Press Office. Others were issued by the Press Department of the Ministryfor Foreign Affairs. Yet others, primarily those covering press conferences with President Carter and Secretary of State Vance have appeared as Official Texts and were issued by the International Communication Agency of the United States of America in Tel Aviv.
Thanks are due to the staff of the English Publications Division of the Government Press Office for translating many of the documents from Hebrew to English. There has been virtually no editing of texts, and many of the documents are reproduced as they first appeared
As in the previous volumes in this series, no effort has been made to impose on the different translations uniformity of style or even consistency of spelling. Hence, English and American spelling often interchange. With few exceptions, entire documents are reproduced. To the extent that excerpts were made, it is so indicated in the introduction to the documents.
Mrs. Yerma Medzini was again subjected to living through two years of documents, which she did with patience and understanding.
Jerusalem, July 1981
Meron Medzini