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The Arab Spring meets the United Arab Republic

The 56th anniversary of the United Arab Republic is a time to regain the dynamism of the Arab Spring.
An anti-Mursi protester covers his face with a picture of former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser as he rests while waiting for other protesters to arrive in front of the presidential palace during a demonstration in Cairo, August 24, 2012. Opponents of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi scuffled with his supporters on Friday during a demonstration that posed the first test of the Islamist leader's popularity on the street. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR373G7

Fifty-six years ago on this day, Egypt and Syria became one state. The enthusiasm that prevailed among the Arab people everywhere then felt that this development was the precursor of the Arab unity that had eluded Arab nationalism for many decades, if not centuries.

After 56 years, the Arab Spring is in its third anniversary. Like the declaration of the United Arab Republic, the Arabs elicited a similar response when the revolution took place in Tunisia.

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