Egypt’s President Muhammed Morsi mediated talks in Cairo between the leaders of Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas, in an attempt to implement a unity pact signed in 2011.

Egypt was plagued by further sporadic violence as the Arab spring of 2011 failed to bring stability. Mohamed Morsi won the presidential election and became the first elected Islamist head of state in the Arab world. He proposed a new constitution that critics say is excessively Islamist and endangers minorities.

The National Transitional Council in Libya handed over power to an elected congress, though factional fighting continued. The American ambassador to Libya was killed on the 11th of September in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

A week-long war in Gaza was sparked by Israel’s air strike which killed the head of Hamas’ military wing, which left 140 Palestinians and six Israeli’s dead. Egypt brokered a ceasefire.

While the UN General Assembly recognised Palestine as a non-member observer state, Israel pushed ahead with its plans to build 3,000 settler homes on part of the West Bank.

On reports of the Syrian regime moving chemical weapons around the country, US president Barack Obama warned the Assad regime that any use of chemical weapons would be “totally unacceptable” and would result in “consequences”. Increasingly confident rebel forces were preparing for a battle for Damascus.

A ceasefire held in Gaza as indirect talks were held in Cairo between mediators for Israel and Hamas.

Syria’s revamped opposition coalition was recognised by Britain, France, Turkey and six Gulf states.

The Palestinians said they would formally apply for enhanced observer status at the United Nations during a meeting of the General Assembly on November 29th. A large majority is likely to say yes.

A series of bomb blasts killed two foreign workers in Bahrain. The official news agency blamed terrorists for the attacks.

Increases in fuel prices sparked demonstrations and calls for a general strike in Amman, Jordan. There was a rare show of public anger directed at the monarchy.

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails ended their weeks-long hunger strike, after Israeli authorities agreed to improve prison conditions. There had been growing concern about the potential for unrest in the event of a prisoner’s death.

Three bombs struck security targets in Damascus and Aleppo (Syria), killing 30 people.

Hana Shalabi, a Palestinian activist detained without charge by Israel, was said by a medical rights group to be facing “immediate risk of death” after more than 30 days of hunger strike.

Syrian government troops regained control of the northern city Idlib, which was previously in rebel hands. The UN raised its estimate of those killed in the unrests to 8,000.

Syria’s deputy oil minister resigned and joined the side of the rebel opposition. Abdo Hussameldin is the most senior figure to leave Bashar Assad’s regime. More than 8,000 people have died in the violence since the uprising began.

Militants linked to Al-Qaeda in Yemen have killed more than 100 people in clashes in southern Yemen.