The purpose of the visit was to address the Knesset, the legislative body in Israel, to try to advance the Israeli-Arab peace process.

International Zionist leaders sent telegrams to the Egyptian embassies in Austria and Washington D.C. expressing their desire to hold a secret meeting with Sadat, but these attempts failed due to the objection of the Foreign Minister.

The Israelis did not despair, so they went to Moroccan King Hassan II, where Menachem Begin suggested direct contact with Egypt, and Sadat accepted that.

Sadat had stated before a special session of the Egyptian People's Assembly that he was ready to go to their "home," the Knesset in Jerusalem and discuss peace on 9 November 1977.

On 6 October 1981, while watching the annual parade that marked Egypt's initial success in the Yom Kippur War, Sadat was assassinated.