The US senate has unanimously approved a bill in honor of Egypt’s pivotal president of the 1970s, Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian Embassy in Washington announced in a Thursday statement. The commemoration coincides with the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Camp David agreement with Israel.
After passing the bill, the US Senate unanimously approved that Sadat would be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his historic achievements and his courageous contributions to peace in the Middle East.
The bill is called the Anwar Sadat Centennial Celebration Act.
“We award the Congressional Gold Medal to Anwar Sadat in recognition of his historic achievements and courageous contributions to peace in the Middle East,” the bill reads.
Sadat’s widow, Jihan Sadat, expressed her great pleasure towards the decision which comes 36 years after her husband’s assassination.
“Sadat was able to achieve peace in the region,” she told Asharq Al-Awast.
“The Gold Congress medal is a pride for every Egyptian and Arab,” she added.
Jihan added that her husband has spared Egypt, its youth and the region wars by signing the peace treaty with Israel. In that, she added, he deserves recognition.
For her part, Sakina Sadat, sister of the late president, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Sadat saved the Egyptians and if it weren’t for him, we (Egypt) will be living in constant wars.”
“He deserves all the recognition for his courageous contributions to achieving peace and economic prosperity for Egypt,” she added.
Sadat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, for signing the peace treaty.
Anwar Sadat is regarded as one of the most influential Egyptian leaders in history. He assumed power following Gamal Abdel Nasser’s death in 1970, and served as president for eleven years until he was assassinated in 1981 by fundamentalists, who were angered by the Israel peace deal.
