After eliminating his rivals to ensure his regime’s stability, Nasser quickly embarked on new strategies to regain the territories Israel had conquered during the war. As Nasser began to rebuild Egypt’s military with Soviet assistance in preparation for another possible war with Israel, he simultaneously adopted a strategy of using the UN to score political points, if not regain the lost territories. Moscow supported this strategy and viewed it as an opportunity to restore its own damaged reputation at home and to mend relations with Egypt after failing to come to its defense against Israel.1