Oda, M., Mohammed, A. (2026). Tunisia's stance on the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. , 2026(1), 229-242. doi: 10.37653/juah.2026.191219
Marwa Mohammed Oda; Ali Najeh Mohammed. "Tunisia's stance on the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty". , 2026, 1, 2026, 229-242. doi: 10.37653/juah.2026.191219
Oda, M., Mohammed, A. (2026). 'Tunisia's stance on the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty', , 2026(1), pp. 229-242. doi: 10.37653/juah.2026.191219
Oda, M., Mohammed, A. Tunisia's stance on the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. , 2026; 2026(1): 229-242. doi: 10.37653/juah.2026.191219

Tunisia's stance on the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty

Journal of University of Anbar for Humanities
Volume 2026, Issue 1, March 2026, Pages 229-242    PDF (3.81 M)
DOI: 10.37653/juah.2026.191219
Authors
Marwa Mohammed Oda* 1; Ali Najeh Mohammed2
1University of Anbar- College of Education for Humanities
2University of Anbar- College of Arts- Iraq
Abstract
Aims: This study aims to analyze Tunisia's position on the developments of the Arab-Israeli conflict and to elucidate the role Tunisia played on the Arab stage during a pivotal phase of this conflict. The study seeks to understand the dynamics shaping official and popular Tunisian positions within the context of major regional transformations. Methods: The study adopted an integrated scientific methodology, employing the historical approach to trace the evolution of Tunisian political positions toward the Arab-Israeli conflict and to analyze related events and political decisions during the specified period. The descriptive-analytical approach was also utilized to describe the nature of official and popular positions and analyze them in light of the political and regional context the region witnessed during that phase, taking into account the complex interactions between local and Arab levels. Results: The study revealed that the Tunisian position underwent a substantial transformation following the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty in 1979, resulting from widespread popular opposition that intensified within Tunisia and across the Arab world. Broad segments of Tunisian society considered that this treaty contributed to marginalizing legitimate Palestinian rights, particularly the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on their land. Furthermore, Egypt's recognition of Israel and its conclusion of political, economic, and commercial agreements with it sparked extensive criticism in official and popular Arab circles alike. Amidst this context, the Tunisian government moved toward adopting a position more aligned with Tunisian and Arab public opinion supporting the Palestinian cause and rejecting various forms of normalization with Israel, reflecting a convergence between official position and popular will. Conclusions: The study concludes that the Tunisian position on the Arab-Israeli conflict was neither fixed nor unidimensional; rather, it formed and evolved in response to complex internal and regional variables. The findings highlight that the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty constituted a critical turning point in reshaping the Tunisian position, as the trend supporting Palestinian rights and rejecting normalization strengthened due to popular pressure and the influence of the Arab context rejecting the treaty. The study confirms that the Tunisian position during that phase reflected the distinctive relationship between state and society in Tunisia, and the capacity of public opinion to influence foreign policy directions, particularly on issues linked to national and Arab identity. The study recommends expanding research to include comparative analysis with positions of other Arab countries, toward a deeper understanding of the complexities of interaction between local and regional variables in shaping policies toward the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Keywords
Arab-Israeli Conflict; Tunisia; Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty; Palestinian Cause; Normalization; Foreign Policy
References
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