Someone You Should Know: Anwar El Sadat

In 1918, when Anwar El Sadat was born in a small Egyptian village, his country was under British rule. Sadat grew up believing that Egypt must one day become free.

As a young army officer, Sadat met Gamal Abdul Nasser. The two became friends for life. With other young officers, they formed a secret group to drive the British out of Egypt.

But when World War II came, the British learned of Sadat’s activities. They put him in prison. For nearly two years, Sadat was kept in a single prison cell, where there was little to do but think. Egypt must still become free, Sadat thought. And progress must be made against the country’s poverty. Sadat decided that in order for there to be any progress, people must learn to change the way they think.

When finally got out of prison, Sadat rejoined Nasser and the other officers to the secret group. Together, they overthrew the government. They forced the British out of their country. The Egyptian people would have their own government. Nasser became president.

Nearly twenty years later, when Nasser died, Sadat became Egypt’s president. His main trouble was with Israel. Israel and Egypt had long been enemies. The recent past of Egypt, like that of other Arab nations, was marked by terrible wars with Israel. Arabs and Israelis each believed that they had wrongfully lost parts of their lands. Sadat had fought for his country and loyalty supported Egypt’s actions against Israel.

But one day he surprised the world by deciding to meet personally with the leaders of Israel to discuss peace. Shocked and angry, other Arab leaders called Sadat a traitor to the Arab people. But Sadat stood firm. It was time to end the terrible wars, he said. Then he repeated what he had decided long ago in prison: for there to be any progress, people must change the way they think.
Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, the Israeli leader, met to begin the peace talks. In 1978, they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Three years later, Anwar El Sadat was assassinated as he watched an Egyptian military parade.

note: originally posted at Exposeknowledge.com under the same author.