On 26 March Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty after years of bloody conflict – a major milestone in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The countries agreed to Normalize relations yet each interpreted and perceived normalization differently. The transition from conflict to peace poses a great challenge to scholars of conflict resolution, and yet the subject of normalization has received little attention in existing IR literature. Based on a broader research project dealing with Egypt-Israel relations, this paper examines the different meanings of normalization, their implementation in Egypt–Israel bilateral relations and their implications for the wider regional relations. To begin with, it will distinguish between three main settings of normalization, which indicate the status of pre-normalization relations: recognition and establishment of bilateral ties for the first time; restoration of previously severed bilateral ties; and formalization and expansion of pre-existing bilateral ties. Then it examines the historical context of the pre-normalization dispute and distinguishes between two types of contexts: with and without a history of direct violent / protracted militarized conflict. Applying these forms of normalization to Egyptian–Israeli relations, the paper seeks to enhance our understanding of issues and challenges in establishing full normalization after protracted conflict and war. Drawing on primary source material from archives, official publications, the Egyptian press, Arabic books and articles, interviews, and secondary sources in various languages, the paper proffers two new forms of normalization of relations: One is material/strategic normalization which may be defined as partial normalization; The other is people-to-people / cultural normalization which demonstrates complete reconciliation expressed in full normalization. The empirical discussion focuses on the Egyptian perspective on normalization with Israel and presents the considerations of the Egyptian leaders, from Sadat to ‘Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi, which led Egypt to limit normalization to the governmental level mostly. It also presents the ongoing debate among the Egyptian cultural elite and actors from within Egypt’s civil society regarding full normalization between the two peoples.