23. Camp David intimidated the Egyptian and Israeli delegations in 1978
When Jimmy Carter selected Camp David as the site for peace negotiations between the Israelis and Egyptians his primary motive was to isolate Begin and Sadat from their political bases at home. Carter believed that after a few days, the two leaders would recognize the opportunity before them and arrive at a lasting and historic peace. The president also believed that the restful nature of the camp would be conducive to productive discussions as each of the delegations grew more relaxed. Carter ensured that for this reason every conceivable need of the individuals of each delegation were anticipated and met.
What Carter did not anticipate was that the delegations would find the camp a less than welcoming place. One member of the Egyptian delegation found the camp “claustrophobic” and complained of the “gloomy” quality of the light during the daytime hours. Both sides found the informality of the camp – meeting with the opposition without wearing suits and ties, for example – to be disconcerting. Both sides came to believe that President Carter’s position favored the other. In the end, an agreement was reached, though the parties involved chose to return to the White House for its formal signing, rather than remain at Camp David any longer than necessary.
