Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1014IR // #c1014Synthesis

"Sadat flew to the capital of his enemies, a disputed capital which not even the United States, Israel's best friend, had recognized. Instead of acting as an enemy, Sadat acted as a partner."

— In our words · Source: Getting to Yes (Roger Fisher, William Ury & Bruce Patton)

[Use when]

The negotiation is stuck because the other side's image of you makes agreement unthinkable.

[Why it matters]

Israel saw Sadat as the man who had attacked it four years before. He changed that with an act, not an argument, and the authors say it is hard to imagine the peace treaty without it.

More from Getting to Yes

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