HIGHLIGHTS OF MAIN EVENTS 1979-1980

1979
3 April	Prime Minister Begin returns from Egypt after a two day official visit. He and President Sadat agree to advance the date of returning El Arish to Egypt to 26 May, and that the two leaders will meet a day later in El Arish and in Beersheba.
10 April	PLO Central Council declares the organization will intensify terrorist activities to undermine the Israel-Egypt treaty.
11 April	Israel air force planes attack PLO targets in southern Lebanon after a katyusha bombing of Kiryat Shmona. 22 April In a terrorist raid on Nahariya, an Israeli policeman, a civilian and his two daughters are slain. The next day, Israeli navy ships shell two terrorist bases in Lebanon.
23 April	U.S. State Department deplores an Israeli government decision to establish two settlements in Samaria.
25 April	Defence Minister Weizman arrives in Cairo for a three day visit. On 26 April he meets with President Sadat in Ismailia. The instruments of ratification of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty are exchanged in Umm Hashiba. The treaty is now legally binding.
30 April	The first Israeli vessel flying the Israeli flag sails through the Suez Canal. President Carter again terms Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria an obstacle to peace and contrary to international law.
7 May	Addressing the opening of the Knesset's summer session, Prime Minister Begin Calls on the President of Lebanon to enter into peace talks. The offer is declined by the Lebanese leader.
13 May	Chief of Staff Eitan, accompanied by the Director of Military Intelligence Saguy, arrive in Cairo for a five day official visit.
23-24 May	Prime Minister Begin meets in London with Prime Minister Thatcher and with Secretary of State Vance. Mr. Vance flies to Alexandria for talks with President Sadat.
25 May	El Arish is handed over to Egypt within the implementation of the first phase of Israeli withdrawal from Sinai. Israeli and Egyptian negotiators meet in Beersheba for the first round of the autonomy talks in the presence of Secretary of State Vance.
27 May	The Israeli-Egyptian borders are proclaimed open by President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin meeting in El Arish. Later that day the two leaders flew to Beersheba, where President Sadat received an honorary degree from Ben Gurion University.
30 May	UNDOF's mandate is extended for six months by the Security Council.
4 June	Foreign Minister Dayan arrives in Cairo for three days of talks. U.S. State Department condemns Israel's decision to establish Elon Moreh in Samaria.
10 June	Deputy Prime Minister Yadin arrives in Cairo for six days of talks and visits to archaeological sites.
11-12 June	Israeli and Egyptian negotiators meet in Alexandria for the autonomy talks. Interior Minister Burg meets with President Sadat.
17 June	Defence Minister Weizman resigns from the Israeli autonomy negotiating team.
18-20 June	The foreign ministers of the nine European nations issue a statement criticizing Israel's settlement policy. Foreign Minister Dayan protests to their ambassadors in Israel.
25-26 June	Another round of autonomy talks is held in Herzliya.
27 June	In an air battle over Lebanon, Israeli air force planes down six Syrian MIG 21's.
2-3 July	Newly appointed U.S. special envoy for the autonomy talks, Robert Strauss, meets with Prime Minister Begin in Jerusalem and President Sadat in Alexandria.
5 July	In another round of the autonomy talks in Alexandria, it is resolved to create two working committees to discuss the authority of the proposed administrative council and ways for the establishment of self administration.
10-12 July	Prime Minister Begin and President Sadat meet for two days of talks in Alexandria.
18 July	Speaking at a summit conference of the Organization of African Unity, President Sadat defends the peace treaty with Israel and calls for the creation of a Palestinian provisional government to represent the Palestinians in the negotiations.
19 July	The U.S. and the USSR agree to replace UNEF in Sinai by UNTSO. Three days later Israel announces its objection to the plan.
24 July	The Security Council terminates the mandate of UNEF. Members of this force will be replaced by UNTSO. Israel opposes the plan saying it is not an acceptable alternative multi-national force. Israel's objections are termed by the U.S. as "misconceptions". Chairman of the Israel Labour Party Peres arrives in Cairo on an official visit and meets President Sadat.
29-31 July	In another autonomy talks round the U.S. proposes the creation of a Palestinian legislative council in addition to the administrative council. Israel opposed.
29 July	Egyptian Defence Minister Ali arrives in Israel on an official visit.
3 August	The I.D.F. destroys three terrorist bases in southern Lebanon.
7 August	Another autonomy talks round is concluded in Haifa. The parties decide to establish working groups to formulate an election law for the inhabitants of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza region. Israel rejects proposals granting voting rights to Arab residents of East Jerusalem or Palestinians living in Jordan and elsewhere.
21 August	Another session of the autonomy talks fails to resolve the deadlock.
23-24 August	The Security Council debates an Arab sponsored resolution calling for "self determination, national independence and sovereignty" for Palestinians. Israel opposed the motion while Egypt supported it. U.S. threat to veto the resolution led the Council to adjourn without a decision.
4-6 September	President Sadat visits Haifa for talks with Israeli leaders.
10 September	Foreign Minister Dayan has talks with Foreign Minister Genscher and other German officials.
13-14 September	Defence Minister Weizman is in Washington for talks on arms supplies.
17 September	President Carter, Vice President Mubarak and Foreign Minister Dayan mark the first anniversary of the Camp David Accords in a White House ceremony.
18 September	The U.S. criticizes an Israeli government decision allowing Israeli citizens to purchase land in the territories saying this decision seems "contrary to the spirit and intent of the peace process". Egypt also condemned the decision.
24 September	Israel air force planes, on a reconnaissance flight over Lebanon, clash with and down four Syrian MIG 21's. In a speech to the General Assembly, King Huseein reiterates his refusal to join the Israel-Egypt peace talks.
14 October	Israel's cabinet votes unanimously to expand seven new settlements in Judea and Samaria, without, however, seizing any privately owned Arab land for the purpose.
16 October	Agriculture Minister Sharon starts a four day visit to Egypt.
17-18 October	Another round of autonomy talks in Alexandria creates doubts if the negotiations can be completed by the end of the target date - May 1980.
21 October	Foreign Minister Dayan resigns from office due to differences of opinions on the autonomy talks. Mr. Begin becomes acting foreign minister. Defence Minister Weizman starts a five day visit to Egypt.
26 October	Israeli, Egyptian and U.S. delegates meet in London and discuss election modalities. It is also agreed that Egypt and Israel will propose models for the self administrative council.
7 November	Ambassador Sol Linowitz succeeds Robert Strauss as the U.S. special envoy for the autonomy talks.
11 November	The Cabinet decides to augment the Jewish population in the territories, while the establishment of new settlements is postponed until the legal advisor of the government presents an opinion on the status of state owned lands.
14-20 November	Egyptian, Israeli and American negotiators meet in Herzliya for further talks on Palestinian autonomy.
15 November	Mt. Sinai and the Saint Catharine region are returned to Egypt two months ahead of schedule.
25 November	Israel returns the Alma oil field in A-Tour to Egypt.
12-19 December	Another round of autonomy talks is held in Cairo.
31 December	Following a meeting between President Carter and Defence Minister Weizman, the U.S. announces the addition of $200 million to the $2.2 billion loan included in the special aid to Israel in the wake of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
1980
5 January	Egypt appoints Saad Mortada as its first ambassador to Israel. Dr. Eliyahu Ben Elissar will be Israel's first ambassador to Egypt.
7-10 January	Prime Minister Begin and President Sadat meet in Aswan to discuss the autonomy. Sadat proposes that, following an agreement, the autonomy should first be implemented in the Gaza District.
17 January	Another autonomy talks round ends in deadlock. Israel and Egypt reject each others models for the self-governing authority.
31 January	A further round of negotiations on the autonomy is held in Israel.
10 February	The Israel cabinet affirms the right of Israeli Jews to settle in Hebron.
18 February	Israel opens its embassy in Cairo.
21 February	The first Egyptian diplomats arrive in Israel to open the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv.
25 February	Egypt's Defence Minister General Kamal Hassan Ali arrives in Israel for a five day official visit as guest of the I.D.F. and the Defence Ministry.
26 February	Ambassadors Ben-Elissar and Mortada present their credentials respectively to President Navon in Jerusalem and to President Sadat in Cairo.
27 February	Israeli, Egyptian and American negotiators meet in Scheveningen (Holland) for another round of autonomy talks.
1 March	The Security Council adopts a resolution calling on Israel to dismantle existing settlements and discontinue establishing new settlements. The U.S. votes in favour. Later President Carter disavowed the vote saying it was the result of communications failure.
3 March	Israel inaugurates commercial air links with Egypt. Israeli and Egyptian officials initial in Cairo a five year cooperation agreement in the spheres of culture, education and science.
6 March	Prime Minister Begin rejects, in a Knesset address, the Security Council resolution on settlements.
10 March	Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Shamir is appointed Foreign Minister.
11 March	An Israel-Egypt agreement on tourism is signed in Cairo.
14 March	An Israel-Egypt civil aviation agreement is initialed in Tel Aviv.
18 March	A contract for the sale of Egyptian oil to Israel is signed in Cairo.
19 March	President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin are invited to Washington for separate meetings with President Carter on the autonomy issue.
24 March	Prior to another autonomy talks round, Ambassador Linwoitz meets with Prime Minister Begin and proposed a two-month freeze on settlements. Mr. Begin declines the proposal.
27 March	In another autonomy talks round held in Alexandria, a steering committee to coordinate the work of the various working groups is established. The negotiators also agree that the 26 May target date originally set for the conclusion of the autonomy talks should not be regarded as a fixed target day.
30 March	An Israel-Egypt transportation agreement is signed in Tel Aviv regulating sea and land movement of people and goods.
1 April	The Egyptian Parliament adopts a resolution affirming Egypt's commitment to "the recovery of East Jerusalem."
7 April	Terrorists penetrate Kibbutz Misgav Am on the Israel-Lebanon border, killing two adults and an infant. The I.D.F. annihilates the murderers.
8 April	Israeli troops enter south Lebanon to flush out terrorists bases. They withdraw on 14 April.
8-9 April	President Sadat holds talks with President Carter in Washington.
14-18 April	Prime Minister Begin, accompanied by Ministers Shamir and Burg, holds talks with President Carter and senior administration officials in Washington.
18 April	The I.D.F. raids terrorist base in Tyre.
30 April	The U.S. vetoes a Security Council draft resolution calling for the creation of a Palestinian state.
2 May	Terrorists in Hebron kill seven Jewish students and wound 16 others. The mayors of Hebron and Halhoul are deported to Lebanon for incitement.
8 May	The Security Council votes for a resolution calling on Israel to rescind the deportation of the mayors of Hebron and Halhoul. The U.S. abstains.
9-14 May	Foreign Minister Shamir visits Rome and London for high level talks.
10 May	Defence Minister Weizman signs in Cairo agreement dealing with shipping, trade and tourism. He also meets with President Sadat.
16 May	President Sadat announces that Egypt will not resume the autonomy talks, citing a draft law in the Knesset on Jerusalem as his reason.
20 May	The Security Council deplores Israel's failure to return the deported mayors. The U.S. abstains.
25 May	Ezer Weizman resigns as Defence Minister. Mr. Begin takes over the defence portfolio.
25 May	In an interview in the "Washington Post" Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia says that if Israel would declare its intention to withdraw from areas occupied in 1967, "Saudi Arabia would do its utmost to bring the Arabs to cooperate and work for a full settlement." Begin invites Fahd to come to Jerusalem and address the Knesset.
30 May	Prime Minister Begin warns that Israel will not implement the final phase of its withdrawal from Sinai unless Egypt agrees to a multi-national force to police the buffer zone as provided for in the peace treaty. The next day Defence Minister Kamal Hassan Ali says Egypt is satisfied with Israel's clarifications.
2 June	The mayors of Nablus and Ramallah are seriously wounded in attacks.
13 June	The European Economic Community heads issue the Venice Declaration. Few days later it is rejected by the Israel cabinet.
30 June	The Security Council adopts a resolution deploring moves by Israel to make the whole of Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The U.S. abstains.
2-3 July	Egyptian Foreign Minister Ali, Interior Minister Burg and special envoy Linowitz meet in Washington and agree to resume negotiations on Palestinian autonomy.
13-15 July	Israeli and Egyptian teams meet in Cairo to discuss Palestinian autonomy, but fail to agree on an agenda for future talks.
30 July	The Knesset votes by 69 to 15 with 3 abstentions to approve Basic Law: Jerusalem. This is followed by the departure of all foreign legations from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
3 August	Egypt requests postponement of the autonomy talks in the wake of the passage of the Jerusalem law.
15 August	Sadat proposes to Begin a summit meeting to be held with the U.S. after the presidential elections. Begin accepts.
20 August	The Security Council votes to condemn Israel for the passage of the Jerusalem law and urged all nations not to recognize it. The U.S. abstains.
31 August	Ambassador Linowitz discusses the autonomy with Mr. Begin in Jerusalem.
9-10 September	Foreign Minister Shamir visits Egypt.
17 September	The second anniversary of the Camp David Accords is marked in a White House ceremony with President Carter, Foreign Ministers Shamir and Ali.
20 September	A conference of Islamic foreign ministers is held in Fez. They agree on a plan to force Israel out of the UN and to lead a holy war against Israel.
14-15 October	Ministers Ali and Burg meet in Washington with Ambassador Linowitz. Some progress is reported.
17 October	Israel and the U.S. sign an agreement guaranteeing the supply of oil to Israel in times of specified emergencies.
23 October	Israel proposes to the UN the convening in 1981 of an international conference to decide on a nuclear free Middle East.
26-30 October	President Navon pays a five days state visit to Egypt.
5 November	Prime Minister Begin sends a congratulatory cable to President-Elect Reagan.
9-18 November	Prime Minister Begin, on a private visit to the U.S. meets with President Carter.
16-18 November	Foreign Minister Shamir holds talks in Bonn.
4 December	Israel and Egypt agree to postpone the autonomy talks until the appointment of a new American negotiator by the incoming Reagan administration.
4 December	Foreign Minister Shamir, in a private visit to Paris, meets with President Valerie Giscard d'Estaign. A day later he meets with Dr. Butrus Ghali.
15 December	The General Assembly votes by 98 in favour, 16 against and 32 abstentions for a resolution calling on the Security Council to convene and take measures against Israel. In other General Assembly resolutions, the Camp David Accords are rejected, and Israel is condemned for the passage of the Jerusalem law.
18 December	In a joint statement, President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin say that they have made important progress in the negotiations and are confident that "through perseverance and mutual resolve" they can "fulfill fully the promise of Camp David."
29 December	Egyptian Agriculture Minister Daoud visits Israel. The two countries announce plans for joint cooperation in agriculture.
31 December	Israeli planes strike at terrorist bases in southern Lebanon. Two Syrian planes are shot down.