Israel at War: 1948 | 5 Minute Videos:

wo thousand years after being expelled from their ancient homeland, and a mere three years after the Holocaust, the modern state of Israel was established by the United Nations. But having a legal claim to the land was one thing—being able to keep it was another. Michael Oren tells the tale of Israel's War of Independence.

Israel at War: 1956 | 5 Minute Videos:

Stinging from their loss to Israel in its War of Independence in 1948, Arab countries plotted revenge. Still, a new war seemed unlikely until Egypt allied with the Soviet Union to acquire a fresh arsenal of modern weapons. Renowned historian Michael Oren explains what happened next.

Israel at War: 1967 | 5 Minute Videos:

The state of Israel—less than 20 years old—was completely surrounded by the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria in June 1967. What was Israel to do: wait for the inevitable attack, or strike preemptively? Renowned historian Michael Oren shares the story of how Israel answered this question and stunned the world in the process.

Israel at War: 1973 | 5 Minute Videos:

On Yom Kippur 1973, the holiest day of the Jewish year, Israel's air raid sirens started to blare. Egypt and Syria—still bitter over Israel's victory in the Six-Day War—had launched a surprise attack. Israel's survival hung in the balance. How it responded in this existential moment shaped Middle East history for the next five decades.

Israel at War: 1982 | 5 Minute Videos:

After years of relentless terrorist attacks from its northern neighbor, Israel decided to act. An old adage holds that everyone knows how wars begin but nobody knows how they end. That was certainly true in Lebanon. Renowned historian Michael Oren explains.