In addition to domestic programs, Hosni Mubarak is concerned to regain the Sinai Peninsula for Egypt and to return his country to the Arab fold.

One of Mubarak's first acts had been to pledge to honor the peace treaty with Israel.

In April 1982, the Israeli withdrawal from Sinai had taken place as scheduled. 

A multinational force of observers had taken up positions in Sinai to monitor the peace.

Egypt is allowed to station only one army division in Sinai.

In 1983 Egypt's isolation in the Arab world had begun to end.

In that year, Yasser Arafat had met Mubarak in Cairo after the PLO leader had been expelled from Lebanon under Syrian pressure.