ABSTRACT
The Egyptian connection with the Arab world goes back to ancient times, reinforced by economic and strategic interests. At the outbreak of World War II the Arab world was mostly under foreign rule. The Arab nationalist leaders attempted to defend the Arab cause by reuniting into political parties calling for the end of colonialism. Indeed, the Arab sense of belonging to one nation and to one destiny led to the creation of the League of Arab States in 1945. The establishment of the League in 1945 has been the nearest approximation to the Arab quest for unity. Iraq had been one of the most active exponents of Arab unity since the end of World War I. Having attained its independence in 1932, Iraq became a centre of pan-Arab agitation. The independence and sovereignty of Lebanon within its present borders was to be respected by the other Arab states.
