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While Sadat's act of charity toward the Shah has created difficulties for the Carter Administration with respect to Iran, it has boosted Sadat's personal prestige in the U.S. With Begin facing a possible showdown with Carter over the settlements, Sadat may have concluded that in an American election year it would be difficult to get Carter to pressure the Israelis for concessions on Palestinian autonomy. But by accepting the Shah, Sadat applied a little pressure of his own.