ABSTRACT
Menachem Begin and A. Sadat’s joint determination in August 1981 to finish the negotiations by year’s end engendered some progress but Sadat’s murder two months later threw Egyptian resolve in doubt. By January 1982, US Secretary of State Haig knew that neither Egypt nor Israel wanted the autonomy negotiations to impede the final Israeli withdrawal from Sinai. Strauss’s mandate to “fast-track” the negotiations were soon reduced to utter frustration. In December 1979, Sol Linowitz, a Washington lawyer and successful businessman active in both Democratic politics and the Jewish community, was appointed as Carter’s second “Personal Representative of the President for the Middle East Negotiations.” Begin for his part was cautious, increasingly fettered to his coalition and determined, through Burg and his committee, to keep absolute control through every stage of negotiation. The Egyptian and American attempt to concert pressure on Begin had gone too far.
