<|im_start|>user
What was the united Arab republic?

Context:
In 1958, Egypt and Syria formed a sovereign union known as the United Arab Republic. The union was short-lived, ending in 1961 when Syria seceded, thus ending the union. During most of its existence, the United Arab Republic was also in a loose confederation with North Yemen (or the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen), known as the United Arab States. In 1959, the All-Palestine Government of the Gaza Strip, an Egyptian client state, was absorbed into the United Arab Republic under the pretext of Arab union, and was never restored. The Arab Socialist Union, a new nasserist state-party was founded in 1962.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
The United Arab Republic was formed in 1958 as a sovereign union by Egypt and Syria. Later in 1959 Gaza was part of the republic but it only lasted till 1961 when Syria seceded.<|im_end|>
