After their defeat in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, Arab nations sought revenge—but another war seemed unlikely until Egypt partnered with the Soviet Union to build a powerful arsenal of modern weapons. In this PragerU 5-Minute Video, renowned historian Michael Oren explores how Cold War alliances, rising tensions, and military buildup in the Middle East set the stage for a major conflict. Discover how regional animosities and global politics collided to ignite one of the most pivotal wars in Israeli and Middle Eastern history.