On Wednesday, September 1, 1971, a significant political event occurred in the Middle East: voters in Egypt, Libya, and Syria overwhelmingly approved the formation of a loose federation aimed at uniting a substantial portion of the Arab people.
The Formation of the Federation of Arab Republics
This day marked the widespread approval by citizens for the establishment of a loose federation designed to bring together approximately 42 million of the 100 million Arab people inhabiting the Middle East region. This initiative represented a step towards greater Arab unity and cooperation among the participating states.
Overwhelming Public Endorsement
The referendums held in the three nations demonstrated remarkable popular support for the proposed federation. The voting results showcased a near-unanimous desire for this political consolidation:
| Country | Approval Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Syria | 96.4% | |
| Libya | 98% | |
| Egypt | 99.956% | Only 422 out of 7,776,837 voters cast a 'no' vote. |
This strong mandate from the populace underscored the ambition to foster closer political and economic ties among these key Arab nations.
