Anwar Sadat, considered one of the great leaders whose efforts were indispensable in ending war between Egypt and Israel, inspired many. Almost three decades after his passing, a comprehensive resolution to the Middle East conflict remains elusive.

As history shows, leadership is often essential to resolving international conflicts and to triggering change--certainly in the Middle East. Anwar Sadat, considered one of the great leaders whose efforts were indispensable in ending war between Egypt and Israel, inspired many. Almost three decades after his passing, a comprehensive resolution to the Middle East conflict remains elusive.

What will it take to achieve a peace breakthrough, and who will provide the leadership? Distinguished panelists addressed these questions as well as discussed the role of the United States in brokering Middle East peace.

This event celebrated the publication of "The Sadat Lectures: Words and Images on Peace, 1997-2008," edited by Shibley Telhami and published by the United States Institute of Peace Press. The volume is a compilation of speeches by some of the most accomplished practitioners of international relations, including Ezer Weizman, Jimmy Carter, Henry Kissinger, George Mitchell, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Mary Robinson, James Baker, and Mohamed ElBaradei, with a foreword by Jehan Sadat and conclusion by Aaron David Miller. 

Speakers

  • Dr. Jehan Sadat
    Senior Fellow, University of Maryland
  • Ellen Laipson
    President and CEO, the Henry L. Stimson Center
  • Aaron David Miller
    Public Policy Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
  • William B. Quandt
    Edward R. Stettinius Professor of Politics, University of Virginia
  • Shibley Telhami
    Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, University of Maryland
    Non-Resident Senior Fellow, the Saban Center at Brookings
  • Richard Solomon
    President, United States Institute of Peace

Explore Further

Related Publications

Is China Eyeing a Second Military Base in Africa?

Is China Eyeing a Second Military Base in Africa?

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

For over three decades, every Chinese foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year has been to Africa. This year continued the tradition with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, visiting Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire. Notably, every one of these countries is coastal. And yet, at a time of continued speculation over China’s next military installation in Africa, none of these countries has featured prominently as potential locations in previous analyses. We might, therefore, reasonably ask what China’s current considerations are around basing in Africa. Faced with an increasingly multipolar and assertive Africa at a time of domestic economic challenge, however, China’s long-term strategy remains unclear.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

Six Dilemmas Facing Egypt

Six Dilemmas Facing Egypt

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Egypt has been heavily involved in efforts to end the military confrontations and wars that have periodically broken out in Gaza. However, the scope, scale and stakes of the current war is unlike any prior round of hostilities. In response to the massacre and hostage-taking of mostly Israeli civilians by Hamas and other militant armed groups during their devastating attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel has launched one of the most destructive wars in its history. Indeed, this war will be transformational in numerous ways, with ramifications for several stakeholders beyond the parties themselves.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionGlobal Policy

How a Gaza Marine Deal Could Benefit Palestinians, Israelis and the Region

How a Gaza Marine Deal Could Benefit Palestinians, Israelis and the Region

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Amid today’s dismal Israeli-Palestinian context, positive developments have been in short supply. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s June announcement of preliminary approval for the development of the Gaza Marine gas fields provided a rare glimpse of a potential win-win opportunity. For the Palestinians, it could provide a much-needed boost to their lagging economy and the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority (PA). On the Israeli side, it allows the Netanyahu government to claim it is assisting in improving living conditions in Gaza and could lead to less U.S. pressure on issues like settlement expansion. In the big picture, this is another example of how energy is increasingly becoming a focus for potential win-win agreements in the East Mediterranean.

Type: Analysis

Economics

Takeaways from Blinken’s Trip to the Middle East

Takeaways from Blinken’s Trip to the Middle East

Friday, February 3, 2023

The Middle East has not been a high priority for the Biden administration thus far, with issues such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and escalating tensions with China taking precedence. However, recent developments in the region are catching the administration’s attention, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank earlier this week sought to reaffirm U.S. engagement in the Middle East amid political turnover in Israel, spiraling violence in the Israeli-Palestinian arena, stepped-up Iran-Israel tensions and a deepening economic crisis in Egypt.

Type: Analysis

Peace Processes

View All Publications