On this day: The United Arab Republic

During the years of the republic, citizens were “Arabs” rather than Syrians or Egyptians. But with its capital in Cairo and Nasser - a hero across the Arab world in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis of 1956 - as president , the UAR was from the outset dominated by Egypt.

Senior political roles were never given to Syrians, while opposition to the union grew in the country. Economic difficulties further damaged the union, but ultimately it was the Syrian officers’ coup of September 1961 that triggered its collapse.

What the JC said: Undoubtedly, the most dangerous man in the Middle East today from both the Western and Israeli points of view (and are not their interests virtually identical?) is still Colonel Nasser. But he is not another Salafin and it remains doubtful whether he will have the ability to unite the Middle East under his leadership. If he did, the danger to Israel would clearly increase, though in any event, as Mr Ben Gurion has said, his country must remain ever watchful against potential danger.

See more from the JC archives here.