ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 begins with a brief survey of the reasons for the severance of relations between Washington and Cairo after the war in 1967, continues with the diplomatic efforts that the lame-duck Johnson administration made to reach some form of accord, and concludes with a look at the conditions set by the Egyptians and Americans for a renewal of relations after Nixon entered the White House. The chapter also delves into the diplomatic positions of Israel and Egypt regarding a settlement and surveys the development of the US Administration’s principles regarding the Middle East crisis. These principles, which were formulated primarily by the State Department in an attempt to maintain a balance between the two sides, brought down Israel’s wrath on the US. Israel viewed these principles as tending to side with the Arabs and with Egypt, while the latter insisted on concrete evidence and clear-cut commitments by the US.
