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The Evolution of the Egypt-Israel Boundary: From Colonial Foundations to Peaceful Borders

Author: Nurit Kliot

Abstract

The formation of the present Egyptian-Israeli border has taken place over a period of almost 80 years during which four wars have been fought between Israel and Egypt themselves, as well as two world wars involving the colonial powers which formerly ruled Egypt and Israel/Palestine. The final border line thus reflects three major factors:

• The colonial struggle which took place between Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire, with the participation of such bystanders as Russia, Germany, France and Austria.
• The wars between Egypt and Israel, the most important being the 1948-9 war (the Israeli War of Independence).
• The Peace Treaty which was signed between Israel and Egypt in 1979 and which provided the final formal recognition of the border line as a mutually recognised permanent and peaceful border between the two nations.

This Briefing is divided into two main parts. The first part examines the development of the border between 1906 and 1948. The second deals with developments in the period 1949 to 1982 and the 'cold peace' which developed along the boundary thereafter. In addition, a special section is devoted to the Taba dispute and its settlement.

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