Golda Meir Russia-born first prime minister of Israel Date of Birth: 03.05.1898 Country: Israel

1. Golda Meir: Early Life and Immigration
2. Zionist Activism and Immigration to Palestine
3. Government and Political Career
4. Prime Ministership and the Yom Kippur War
5. Legacy and Death

Golda Meir: Early Life and Immigration

Golda Meir, born Golda Mabovitch in 1898 in Kiev, Russian Empire (present-day Ukraine), was the first Prime Minister of Israel. Her family emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1906, where she completed her education and taught in public schools.

Zionist Activism and Immigration to Palestine

In 1915, Meir joined the Poale Zion, a leftist Zionist labor union organization. She later met and married Morris Meyerson and, in 1921, immigrated with him to Palestine, which was then under British Mandate.

Government and Political Career

Meir's career in government began in 1949 when she was elected to the Knesset, Israel's parliament. She served as Minister of Labour from 1949 to 1956 and then as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1956 to 1966. In 1956, at the insistence of David Ben-Gurion, she adopted the surname Meir.

Prime Ministership and the Yom Kippur War

After the death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in 1969, Meir became the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. Her tenure was marked by internal divisions in the ruling coalition, policy disagreements, and a lack of strong leadership. These factors contributed to the devastating losses suffered by Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Legacy and Death

In 1974, Meir stepped down as Prime Minister, passing the mantle to Yitzhak Rabin. She died in 1978 and was buried on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Meir's legacy includes her memoirs, "My Life," a film titled "A Woman Called Golda," and a monument in her honor in New York City.