Sinai has never been Israeli, it was Egyptian before the 1956 War but it was invaded by Israel''s armed forces, which then had to retreat. During the 1967 War, it was reconquered by the Israelis who, following the peace treaties, had to cede it to Egypt again. In 1973, the Israelis defended it strenuously, this time after having been attacked by surprise, but following the Camp David Agreements, they gave it back to Egypt.