Reagan announced his peace initiative in a nationally televised speech on Sep-
tember 1, 1982, just as the last of the PLO fighters and leaders were being transported
from Lebanon. The crux of Reagan’s plan was the adoption by the United States of
the so-called Jordanian option: establishing a formal, governing relationship between
Jordan and the Palestinian Arabs living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This
option had some credibility because Jordan at the time claimed sovereignty over the
West Bank. Reagan argued that “self-government by the Palestinians of the West Bank
and Gaza in association with Jordan offers the best chance for a durable, just, and last-
ing peace.” The president ruled out two other options: creation of a Palestinian state
and annexation of the West Bank and Gaza by Israel. Reagan also called for a “freeze”
on Israeli settlements, which had been expanded rapidly in the territories during the
previous decade. He said creation of Jewish settlements there “is in no way necessary
for the security of Israel and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs that a final
outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated.”
Reagan’s plan reportedly came as a rude shock to Israeli prime minister Menachem
Begin, who had hoped that Israel’s intervention in Lebanon would kill any remaining
prospects for the Palestinian nationalist movement led by the PLO. He was then sud-
denly confronted with the United States focusing on the plight of the Palestinians and
a demand for eventual Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza. Begin’s cab-
inet firmly rejected Reagan’s plan on September 2, insisting that it was not in accord
with the Camp David agreements.
King Hussein had privately told U.S. officials that he supported the thrust of the
plan, but he also insisted that he could not negotiate with Israel on the basis of the
plan unless he had backing from other Arab leaders, including those in the PLO.
Arab leaders met in Fez, Morocco, in the days after Reagan announced his plan. They
took a modest step toward recognizing Israel, but failed to respond directly to Rea-
gan’s plan, which soon took its place among the long list of peace initiatives that
staked out new positions but failed to bring any semblance of peace (Arab League
Fez Summit, p. 136).
Following are excerpts from the nationally televised speech by President Ronald Rea-
gan on September 1, 1982, presenting his peace plan for the Middle East.DOCUMENT
Reagan Address to
the Nation on U.S. Peace Efforts
in the Middle East
SEPTEMBER1, 1982[Note: In the opening portions of his address, President Ronald Reagan reviewed the outcome
of the Camp David peace process between Egypt and Israel, and the results of Israel’s invasion
132 ARABS AND ISRAELIS