Palestinian autonomy talks Liberation Organization nor any other Palestinian organization was directly involved in the talks. The talks began in late May 1979. The third round of talks were held at Herzliya, Israel on June 25–26, 1979. The delegations were led by Prime Minister Mustafa Khalil (Egypt), Minister Yosef Burg (Israel), and Ambassador James Leonard (United States). Egypt said it did not speak for the Palestinians but rather sought Palestinian elections for a council that would represent the Palestinians. Delegates met in the Netherlands on February 27, 1980. On May 8, 1980, Anwar Sadat unilaterally suspended the negotiations. In July 1980, the talks
Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty from the Arab League in 1979–1989, and Sadat was assassinated on 6 October 1981 by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. The peace between Egypt and Israel has lasted since the treaty went into effect, and Egypt has become an important strategic partner of Israel. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former Israeli defense minister known for his close ties to Egyptian officials, has stated that "Egypt is not only our closest friend in the region, the co-operation between us goes beyond the strategic." As part of the agreement, the U.S. began economic and military aid to Egypt, and political backing for its