Word: sadat
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...missed deadline was especially unfortunate because a peace pact would have brought a welcome measure of stability to the Middle East at a time when the troubles in Iran threaten to plunge the entire region into turmoil. With the Shah's crown slipping and Sadat's peace initiative stalling, the moderate Arab camp is becoming increasingly vulnerable to attacks from radicals. A defeat of the Middle East's moderates would be a monumental setback for Western interests...
...meet the deadline produced a week of roller-coaster diplomacy. Carrying a battered briefcase bulging with notes and drafts of possible compromises, Vance was typically cautious as he flew into Cairo a week ago Sunday. He knew that he would have to get concessions from the Egyptians and that Sadat was going to try to rewrite parts of the draft treaty. Vance was determined to resist because any tampering with even minor points of a text in the late stages of talks risks unraveling the entire negotiations. He hoped to use the approaching Dec. 17 deadline as a bargaining lever...
...first two Vance-Sadat meetings. held in the Egyptian leader's Nile resthouse at the Delta Barrage, 15 miles north of Cairo, cheered the Americans. Vance emerged from the second session reporting "good progress." He interrupted the Cairo talks for a flight to Jerusalem for the funeral of former Israeli Premier Golda Meir. Sensitive to the impropriety of conducting diplomacy at such a moment, Vance huddled only briefly over coffee in a private room at the airport with Israeli Foreign Minister Dayan and Defense Minister Ezer Weizman...
...Jerusalem because it would require Israel to meet all its treaty obligations to Egypt before there was any exchange of ambassadors, and that such an exchange could be indefinitely postponed. Still, Vance was greatly encouraged. He felt that the Israelis would recognize that he had won important concessions from Sadat and therefore react favorably to the trade-offs sought by the Egyptian. Abandoning caution, Vance ventured a statement that, for him, was daring in its finality: "We have finished those two issues." Added the Secretary after arriving in Israel: "We are now in the final stages of the negotiations...
...wrong he was. After a first meeting with Begin and other top Israeli officials, Spokesman Sherman said that the talks were at "a delicate stage," a clear signal that things were souring. The second session was even worse. To Vance's suggestion that Israel accept the changes requested by Sadat, an outraged Begin pounded the table and replied: "What kind of behavior is this? You receive some new demands and push them over to us, making it clear that you already accept them. Is this the behavior of an honest broker?" Responded Vance: "We know that you have taken major...