Unpacking Israeli History When Sadat Came to Jerusalem (re-release)
Dec 9, 2025
The dramatic visit of Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem in 1977 reshaped Middle Eastern dynamics as an unexpected peace overture. Explore Sadat's tense arrival amid historical hostility, his symbolic Yad Vashem visit, and the unprecedented Knesset speech that blended empathy with territorial demands. Delve into the aftermath, including the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, Sadat's complex legacy, and his tragic assassination. This episode emphasizes that change is possible, even from the most unlikely leaders.
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When The Impossible Became Possible
- Anwar Sadat's 1977 visit to Jerusalem overturned assumptions about impossible diplomacy.
- The trip opened a door from 'never' to 'maybe' and eventually to a historic peace treaty.
Trauma Created Political Opening
- The Yom Kippur War shattered Israeli confidence in military invulnerability.
- That trauma created the political conditions for Sadat's overture and later negotiations.
A Dinky TV On An Extraordinary Shabbat
- Noam Weissman recounts his father's memory of Haredi neighbors pulling out a tiny TV to watch Sadat's Jerusalem drive.
- That image captures how extraordinary and surprising the moment felt across Israeli society.