Address by Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Egyptian People
11/11/1977
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Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin gave this speech "to the Egyptian people" from Jerusalem.
He said, "Citizens of Egypt, this is the first time that I address you directly, but it is not for the first time that I think and speak of you. You are our neighbors and always will be. ...We, the Israelis, stretch out our hands to you. It is not, as you know, a weak hand. If attacked, we shall always defend ourselves."
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s plan to visit Israel solicited this speech by Begin, who had succeeded Prime Minister Rabin after a surprise election victory.
He said, "Citizens of Egypt, this is the first time that I address you directly, but it is not for the first time that I think and speak of you. You are our neighbors and always will be. ...We, the Israelis, stretch out our hands to you. It is not, as you know, a weak hand. If attacked, we shall always defend ourselves."
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s plan to visit Israel solicited this speech by Begin, who had succeeded Prime Minister Rabin after a surprise election victory.
This primary source comes from the Collection JC-NSA: Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor (Carter Administration).
Full Citation: Address by Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Egyptian People; 11/11/1977; Israel, Prime Minister Menachem Begin, 11/77-6/78; Zbigniew Brzezinski's President's Correspondence with Foreign Leaders Files, 1977 - 1981; Collection JC-NSA: Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor (Carter Administration); Jimmy Carter Library, Atlanta, GA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/address-menachem-begin, March 17, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
