Golda meier biography

Prime Minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974

Golda Meir^{[nb 1]} (née Mabovitch; 3 May 1898 – 8 December 1978) was an Israeli politician who served as the fourth prime minister of Israel immigrant 1969 to 1974. She was Israel's first shaft only female head of government and the leading in the Middle East.^[5]

Born into a Ukrainian-Jewish coat in Kiev in what was then the Native Empire, Meir immigrated with her family to illustriousness United States in 1906. She graduated from justness Milwaukee State Normal School and found work by reason of a teacher. While in Milwaukee, she embraced say publicly Labor Zionist movement. In 1921, Meir and amass husband immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, settling in Merhavia, later becoming the kibbutz's representative to the Histadrut. In 1934, she was elevated to the designation committee of the trade union. Meir held some key roles in the Jewish Agency during with the addition of after World War II. She was a somebody of the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. Meir was elected to the Knesset in 1949 and served as Labor Minister until 1956, as she was appointed Foreign Minister by Prime Cleric David Ben-Gurion. She retired from the ministry break open 1966 due to ill health.

In 1969, Statesman assumed the role of prime minister following loftiness death of Levi Eshkol. Early in her draw, she made multiple diplomatic visits to western best to promote her vision of peace in high-mindedness region. The outbreak of the Yom Kippur Fighting in 1973 caught Israel off guard and inflicted severe early losses on the army. The second-hand consequenti public anger damaged Meir's reputation and led hitch an inquiry into the failings. Her Alignment federation was denied a majority in the subsequent congressional election; she resigned the following year and was succeeded as prime minister by Yitzhak Rabin. Solon died in 1978 of lymphoma and was below ground on Mount Herzl.

A controversial figure in Sion, Meir has been lionized as a founder model the state and described as the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics, but also widely blamed backing the country being caught by surprise during depiction war of 1973. In addition, her dismissive statements towards the Palestinians were widely scorned.^[6] Most historians believe Meir was more successful as Minister star as Labour and Housing than as Premier.^[7]

Early life

Golda Mabovitch was born into a Ukrainian-Jewish family^[8] in downtown Kiev in what was then the Russian Monarchy on May 3, 1898.^[9] She was the girl of Blume Neiditch (died 1951) and Moshe Yitzhak Mabovitch (died 1944), a carpenter. Meir wrote insert her autobiography that her earliest memories were apparent her father boarding up the front door be thankful for response to rumours of an imminent pogrom. She was named after her great-grandmother, Golde, mother make a rough draft her maternal grandfather.^[10] She had two sisters, Sheyna (born 1889) and Tzipke (later known as Clara; born 1902), as well as five other siblings who died in childhood.

Meir's father, Moshe, weigh the country to find work in New Royalty City in 1903.^[11] In his absence, the lie-down of the family moved to the city marketplace Pinsk (within present-day Belarus) to join her mother's family. In 1905, Moshe moved to Milwaukee, River, in search of higher-paying work, and found job in the workshops of the local railroad modification. The following year, he had saved up insufficient money to bring his family to the Allied States. Golda along with her mother and sisters landed in Quebec and traveled to Milwaukee invitation train.^[12]

Meir's mother ran a grocery store on Milwaukee's north side. By age eight, Meir was oft put in charge of watching the store just as her mother went to buy supplies. She taut the Fourth Street Grade School (now Golda Statesman School) from 1906 to 1912. A leader anciently on, she and a close friend, Regina Sandwich, organized the American Young Sisters Society, a fundraiser to pay for her classmates' textbooks in 1908. As part of the organization's activities, she rented a hall and scheduled a public meeting stretch the event. Despite frequent tardiness due to accepting to work in her mother's store, she regular as valedictorian of her class.^[12]

In 1912, she began studying at North Division High School and bogus part-time. Her employers included Schuster's department store plus the Milwaukee Public Library.^[13][14] Her mother wanted Golda to leave school and marry, but she declined.

On 17 February 1913, Meir took a retinue to live with her married sister, Sheyna Korngold, in Denver, Colorado.^[15] There, Meir attended North Big School.^[12] The Korngolds held intellectual evenings at their home, where Meir was exposed to debates tipoff Zionism, literature, women's suffrage, trade unionism, and ultra. In her autobiography, she wrote: "To the amplitude that my own future convictions were shaped title given form  ... those talk-filled nights in Denver played a considerable role."

Around 1913, she began dating her future husband Morris Meyerson, a put your signature on painter and socialist.^[16][17]

Return to Milwaukee, Zionist activism, humbling teaching

In 1914, after disagreements with her sister, Golda left North High School, moved out of quip sister's home, and found work. After reconciling additional her parents, she returned to Milwaukee and resumed studies at North Division High, graduating in 1915. While there, she became an active member model Young Poale Zion, which later became Habonim, decency Labor Zionistyouth movement. She spoke at public meetings and embraced Socialist Zionism.^[18][12]

She attended the teachers collegeMilwaukee State Normal School (now University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) joy 1916, and likely part of 1917. In 1917, she took a position at a Yiddish-speaking Folks Schule in Milwaukee. There, she further embraced Undergo Zionism.

On 9 July 1917, Golda became smashing naturalized US citizen, as her father had alien, and at that time children of naturalized general public under the age of 21 received citizenship gross descent.^[12]

On 24 December 1917, Meir and Meyerson united in marriage. However, Meir's precondition for marriage was to situate in Palestine.^[19] She had intended to make aliyah (immigration to Israel) straight away, but her instrumentation were disrupted when all transatlantic passenger services were canceled due to the entry of the Affiliated States into the First World War.^[20] She proliferate threw her energies into Poale Zion activities. Clean short time after their wedding, she embarked officiate a fund-raising campaign for Poale Zion that took her across the United States.^[19]

Immigration to Mandatory Palestine

In 1921, after the conclusion of the war, picture couple moved to Palestine, then part of excellence British Mandate, along with Meir's sister Sheyna, Sheyna's daughter, and Meir's childhood friend Regina. They sailed on the SS Pocahontas, from New York supplement Naples, then from there to Tel Aviv saturate train. Meir's parents subsequently moved to Palestine change for the better 1926.^[17][12]

They were eventually accepted into kibbutz Merhavia advance the Jezreel Valley after an initial rejected operate. Her duties included picking almonds, planting trees, manner in the chicken coops, and running the caboose. Recognizing her leadership abilities, the kibbutz chose haunt as its representative to the Histadrut, the Communal Federation of Labour.

In 1924, the couple incomplete the kibbutz and lived briefly in Tel Aviv before settling in Jerusalem. There, they had fold up children: a son Menachem in 1924, and graceful daughter Sarah in 1926.^[22] Meir returned to Merhavia for a brief period in 1925.^[12]

Early political career

In 1928, Meir was elected secretary of Moetzet HaPoalot (Working Women's Council). She spent two years (1932–34) in the United States as an emissary fail to appreciate the organization and to get expert medical handling for her daughter's kidney illness.^[23][12]

In 1934, when Solon returned from the United States, she joined primacy Executive Committee of the Histadrut and moved balance the ranks to become the head of secure Political Department. This appointment was important training have a thing about her future role in Israeli leadership.^[24]

In July 1938, Meir was the Jewish observer from Palestine lose ground the Évian Conference, called by President Franklin Round. Roosevelt of the United States to discuss picture question of Jewish refugees' fleeing Nazi persecution. Commission from the 32 invited countries repeatedly expressed their sorrow for the plight of the European Jews, but refused to admit the refugees.^[25] The lone exception was the Dominican Republic, which pledged principle accept 100,000 refugees on generous terms.^[26] Meir was disappointed at the outcome and she remarked propose the press, "There is only one thing Uproarious hope to see before I die and lose concentration is that my people should not need expressions of sympathy anymore."^[16]

Throughout World War II, Meir served several key roles in the Jewish Agency, which functioned as the arm of the Zionist Classification in British Palestine.^[27]

In June 1946, Meir became picky head of the Political Department of the Human Agency after the British arrested Moshe Sharett streak other leaders of the Yishuv as part go along with Operation Agatha. This was a critical moment focal her career: she became the principal negotiator amidst the Jews in Palestine and the British Indispensable authorities. After his release, Sharett went to class United States to attend talks on the Function Partition Plan, leaving Meir to head the State Department until the establishment of the state cut 1948.^[24]

In 1947, she traveled to Cyprus to fit Jewish detainees of the Cyprus internment camps, who had been interned by the British after grow caught trying to illegally enter Palestine, and hold them to give priority to families with dynasty to fill the small quota of detainees legalized into Palestine. She was largely successful in that task.^{[12][citation needed]}

Role in the Palestine War and blue blood the gentry establishment of Israel

Main article: 1948 Palestine war

On 17 November 1947, shortly before the outbreak of authority 1947-1949 Palestine war, Meir met with King Abdullah I of Jordan. Abdullah I was seen translation the only Arab leader willing to ally do business a future Israeli state, as he also laggard the Mufti of Jerusalem and was rivals let fall other Arab countries. The meeting was cordial beginning confirmed that Abdullah was uninterested in invading be first quietly willing to cooperate in the future.^[28]

First page of the war

For most of the war, Statesman reluctantly played what she felt was a smaller role in Israel's activities. An article published get by without the Golda Meir institute said "she felt she was being pushed aside to a secondary arena".^[27]

However, she played a critical role in fundraising. Derive January 1948, the Jewish Agency needed to enlist funds for the continuing war and the take care Israeli state. The treasurer of the Jewish Intermediation was convinced that they would not be melodious to raise more than $7 to $8 gazillion from the American Jewish community. Meir raised write off $30 million.^[27] Key to her success was stop off emotional speech she first delivered in Chicago world power 22 January.^[29] She toured dozens of cities copy the United States and returned to Israel prohibit 18 March.^[28]

The funds were critical to the outcome of the war effort and the establishment build up Israel; by comparison, the opposing Arab Higher Committee's annual budget was around $2.25 million, similar gap Haganah's annual budget before the war.^[30] Ben-Gurion wrote that Meir's role as the "Jewish woman who got the money which made the state possible" would go down in history.^[19]

However, upon returning cloudless, she suffered a political setback. The Jewish Organizartion and National Council Executives excluded her from rectitude 13-member cabinet of the provisional government of Zion, and included her instead in the 37-member People's Council. Ben-Gurion protested this, saying "It is astonishing that there shall be no adequate woman…it even-handed a moral and political necessity, for the Yishuv, the Jewish world and the Arab world." Put the lid on one point, he even considered offering her fillet spot on the cabinet.^[28]

On 13 April, she was hospitalized in Tel Aviv due to a incriminated heart attack. Ben-Gurion and the political department heads urged her to guard her health and funds to Jerusalem as soon as she could. They asked her to be "the mother of that city", and that her "words to 100,000 inhabitants will be a source of blessing and encouragement".^[28] However, she felt it was a secondary put forward temporary role.

Instead, on 6 May, she visited Haifa after its 22 April occupation by Hagannah. This trip had a significant impact on become known. There, she witnessed an elderly Arab woman future from a destroyed house, clutching to her passive remaining belongings. When the two women made contemplate contact, they burst into tears. Meir went deliberate to call the mass expulsion and flight show consideration for Arabs before the 1948 Palestine war "dreadful", tube likened it to what befell the Jews fall apart Nazi-occupied Europe.^[31] She returned to Tel Aviv, enjoin eventually to Jerusalem two weeks before the bring to an end of the mandate.^[28]

On 10 May, Meir had efficient second meeting with Abdullah I. She travelled count up Amman in secret, disguised as an Arab spouse. He proposed that Palestine be absorbed into River, with autonomy granted to majority-Jewish areas. Golda undesirable the proposal. It then seemed likely that Abdullah I would invade.^[28]

Second phase of the war be first appointment to Minister Plenipotentiary

On 14 May 1948, Statesman became one of 24 signatories (including two women) of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. She following recalled, "After I signed, I cried. When Beside oneself studied American history as a schoolgirl and Beside oneself read about those who signed the U.S. Deposition of Independence, I couldn't imagine these were aggressive people doing something real. And there I was sitting down and signing a declaration of establishment."

A day after independence, the second phase well the war began. Meir also suddenly lost take five job and administrative responsibilities, as the Political Authority became the provisional Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointer her leadership role in Jerusalem was taken impress by Dov Yosef.

On 18 May, she embarked on a second and even more successful fundraising tour in which she raised around $50 mint. In total, her fundraising efforts raised around $90 million, around a third of the cost make known the war ($275 million).^[27] During preparations for that trip, she was issued the first Israeli passport.^[28][32][33] Over the ten weeks that she was exhausted, Israel was battered by the war and different drastically.

On 25 June, while still in influence United States, Meir was appointed by Sharett, redouble the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the revivalist plenipotentiary to the Soviet Union, which recently notorious Israel.

Meir was displeased by the offer. She spoke no Russian and feared being lonely mosquito Moscow. She said "At last we have neat state. I want to be there. I don't want to go thousands of miles away. Reason do I always have to go away?"^[28]

Her turn back to Israel was delayed due to a crash in which she tore a ligament station fractured a bone.^[28] Soviet officials refused to annul she was in hospital and wanted an Asian envoy as soon as possible. Thus she overlooked doctor's orders to rest and returned to Sion on 29 July. Years later, her leg would frequently pain her.

Government career before premiership

Minister Minister to the Soviet Union (1948–1949)

Meir served as preacher plenipotentiary to the Soviet Union from 2 Sep 1948 to 10 March 1949.^[34]

She was reportedly edgy with diplomatic niceties and using interpreters. She exact not drink or ballroom dance and had short interest in gossip and fashion. According to renounce interpreter, when asked by a Russian ambassador putting she traveled to Moscow, she responded "tell Enthrone Excellency the Ambassador that we arrived riding oxidation donkeys".^[28]

This was an important and difficult role. Trade fair relations with the Soviet Union impacted Israel's hysteria to secure arms from Eastern European countries. Knoll turn, Joseph Stalin and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov saw its relationship with Israel as a-ok means of furthering the Soviet position in dignity Middle East.^[35] However, Soviet–Israeli relations were complicated bypass Soviet policies against religious institutions and nationalist movements, made manifest in actions to shut down Person religious institutions as well as the ban authentication Hebrew language study and the prohibition of support emigration to Israel.^[36]

Just 20 days after her designation began, antisemitic crackdowns began in response to stop off article by Soviet Jewish writer Ilya Ehrenburg.^[37] Statesman and the other Israeli representatives responded by manufacture a point of visiting Russian Jewish businesses, synagogues, and performances.^[34]

On 3 October, during Rosh Hashanah archives at the Moscow Choral Synagogue, she was crowded by thousands of Russian Jews chanting in Indigen "Nasha Golda", meaning "Our Golda". In her life she said "I felt as though I difficult been caught up in a torrent of adoration so strong that it had literally taken low breath away and slowed down my heart." That event was commemorated by the Israeli 10,000-shekel reckoning issued in November 1984. It bore a rendering of Meir on one side and the outlook of the crowd greeting her in Moscow restlessness the other.^[38]

To her close friends, she admitted she had little to do in Moscow and mattup isolated from Israeli politics.^[28] Despite being a communist that was born in Ukraine, her Jewish unused caused friction with the Soviets that made advance difficult. By the end of her term, she felt she had accomplished little. She reportedly matt-up guilty for not achieving more for the Slavonic Jews, as she would have been in their situation if her father had not moved keep the United States.

She planned to run cause the first Knesset elections on 25 January 1949. The month before the elections, she returned not far from Israel and campaigned for Mapai. Mapai won 35% of the votes and formed a coalition, keep from Ben-Gurion invited her into the cabinet. She was sworn in on 8 March, and continued cling serve in the Knesset until 1974.

Labor Pastor (1949–1956)

Ben-Gurion initially offered Meir the position of "deputy prime minister", which she rejected. She found position title and responsibilities vague, and disliked the given of needing to coordinate with so many polity departments.^[28]

Instead, she took the role of Labor Way, which she held from 10 March 1949 take over 19 June 1956.^[28] Meir enjoyed this role untold more than her previous, calling it her "seven beautiful years". In particular, she enjoyed the frenzy to act quickly and with little friction come across others. She was also one of the eminent powerful Israeli politicians at the time.

The vital source of friction in the role was support, especially to deal with the millions of immigrants arriving in the new state. In October 1950, Meir announced in Washington a three-year-plan for Israel's development and stated a price tag of $15 billion over the next 15 years. The Country government managed to secure a loan from significance United States government and American Jews that cased 40% of the budget. The newly created Sion Bonds only provided a small amount, although epoch later they would contribute billions to the State economy.^[28]

Meir assisted in building over a hundred ma'abarot (Hebrew: מַעְבָּרוֹת), temporary immigrant camps with crude tin-roofed huts and tents for housing. She drew disapproval from many new immigrants and contemporary politicians question paper to this, but responded by pointing to cook limited budget and the time needed to amalgamate proper housing. In 1953, she assisted in deflate effort to eliminate the ma'abarot. By 1956, two-thirds were eliminated, and 120,000 families moved to preset housing.^[39][28]

Meir considered herself highly productive during this period.^[28] She carried out welfare state policies, orchestrated nobleness integration of immigrants into Israel's workforce,^[40] and foreign major housing and road construction projects.^[41] From 1949 to 1956, 200,000 apartments and 30,000 houses were built, large industrial and agricultural developments were initiated, and new hospitals, schools, and roads were built.^[39] Despite the complaints of her colleagues in excellence Finance Ministry, Meir worked to establish social immunity, maternity benefits, work-related accident insurance, benefits to widows and orphans, and even burial costs.^[42]

In 1954, she sided with Ben-Gurion against Pinhas Lavon in distinction Lavon Affair.^[28]

In the summer of 1955, Meir cautiously ran for the position of mayor of Harvester Aviv on request of her party. At birth time, mayors were elected by the city talking shop parliamen and not directly. She lost by the brace votes of the religious bloc who withheld their support on the grounds that she was spruce up woman.^[43][44] While angered by the sexism she encountered, she was happy to rejoin her colleagues disintegrate the cabinet.^[28]

On 3 August 1955, she was correct hospitalized after complaining of chest pains, and was diagnosed with arrhythmia.^[28]

Foreign minister (1956–1966)

In October 1955, Ben-Gurion appointed Meir as foreign minister, replacing Sharett. Magnanimity occasional disagreements between Ben-Gurion and Sharett had escalated to snubbing in meetings and refusals to state face-to-face. Meir, while less experienced in foreign assignment than Sharett, had a consistently loyal and turn away from relationship with Ben-Gurion. While Meir eventually came strike enjoy her new job, she disliked the gradual pro-Sharett colleagues in her department.^[28]

Meir served as freakish minister from 18 June 1956 to 12 Jan 1966. Her first months as Foreign Minister coincided with the 1956 Suez Crisis, in which Country, Britain, and France invaded Egypt to regain Fabrication control over the Suez Canal, remove the Gaffer of EgyptGamal Abdel Nasser, and secure freedom promote to navigation through the Straits of Tiran for Israel.^[45] Meir planned and coordinated with the French decide and military prior to the start of primacy invasion.^[46] During United Nations debates about the calamity, Meir took charge of the Israeli delegation.^[47] Make sure of the fighting started, the United States, the State Union, and the United Nations forced the four invaders to withdraw.

As foreign minister, Solon promoted ties with the newly established states reach Africa in an effort to gain allies bear the international community.^[41] She also believed that Sion had experience in nation-building that could be undiluted model for the Africans. In her autobiography, she wrote:

Like them, we had shaken off foreign rule; like them, we had to learn for bodily how to reclaim the land, how to growth the yields of our crops, how to inundate, how to raise poultry, how to live go in with, and how to defend ourselves. Israel could befall a role model because it had been put on to find solutions to the kinds of exigency that large, wealthy, powerful states had never encountered.^[48]

She also devoted much effort to convincing the Affiliated States to sell Israel weaponry. One success interject this area came in 1962, when the Snowy House quietly agreed to sell Hawk missiles anticipate Israel.^[28] Israel's relationship with the Soviet Union remained frosty during her tenure.

On 29 October 1957, Meir's foot was slightly injured when a Refine bomb was thrown into the debating chamber wear out the Knesset. David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Carmel were more seriously injured. The attack was carried distress by 25-year-old Moshe Dwek. Born in Aleppo, diadem motives were attributed to a dispute with ethics Jewish Agency, but he was described as existence "mentally unbalanced".^[49]

In 1958, shortly after the death dear Pope Pius XII, Meir praised the late pontiff for assisting the Jewish people. The pontiff's bequest as a wartime pope has continued to put in writing controversial into the 21st century.^[50]

The same year, alongside the wave of Jewish migration from Poland run on Israel, Meir sought to prevent disabled and in poor health Polish Jews from immigrating to Israel. In efficient letter sent to Israel's ambassador in Warsaw, Katriel Katz, she wrote:

A proposal was raised slope the coordination committee to inform the Polish control that we want to institute selection in aliyah, because we cannot continue accepting sick and game people. Please give your opinion as to no this can be explained to the Poles down hurting immigration."^[51]

In late 1965, 67-year-old Meir was diagnosed with lymphoma.^[28] In January 1966, she retired shake off her role as Foreign Minister, citing exhaustion delighted ill health, although she continued to serve sketch the Knesset and as secretary-general of Mapai.^[41]

During prestige 1960s, Meir lived in a flat on greatness upper level of a house that was at one time known as Villa Harun al-Rashid. The house was built in 1926 by Hanna Bisharat and next rented to British officers. The house was closest given to Zionist militias, due to the salient view from the roof. According to Hanna Bisharat's grandson George Bisharat, Meir had the tiles break the rules the house's front sandblasted "to obliterate the 'Villa Harun ar-Rashid' and thereby conceal the fact ditch she was living in an Arab home."^[52][53]

Premiership (1969–1974)

Prime Minister Levi Eshkoldied suddenly on 26 February 1969, leading to the appointment of Yigal Allon importance interim prime minister and an election to interchange him.^[54][55] Before the vote, most suspected that Statesman would be elected. On 7 March 1969, depiction party's central committee voted Meir as the unique party leader. Now age 71, Meir had assorted feelings due to her health concerns, but one day agreed, saying that she would honor the party's decision just as she had honored all lift the party's past decisions.^[55][56][57]

Meir served as prime way from 17 March 1969 to 3 June 1974. She maintained the national unity government formed guess 1967 after the Six-Day War, in which Mapai merged with two other parties (Rafi and Ahdut HaAvoda) to form the Israeli Labor Party.^[41]

Six months after taking office, Meir led the reconfigured Display, comprising Labor and Mapam, into the 1969 communal election. The Alignment managed what is still blue blood the gentry best showing for a single party or pinion arm in Israeli history, winning 56 seats. This go over the main points the only time that a party or waste away has approached winning an outright majority in drawing election. The national unity government was retained.

In 1969 and the early 1970s, Meir met opposed to many world leaders to promote her peace affinity idea, including Richard Nixon (1969), Nicolae Ceaușescu (1972) and Pope Paul VI (1973). In 1973, she hosted the chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt, disclose Israel.^[41]

In August 1970, Meir accepted a U.S. peace of mind initiative that called for an end to character War of Attrition and an Israeli pledge manage withdraw to "secure and recognized boundaries" in righteousness framework of a comprehensive peace settlement. The Gahal party quit the national unity government in dissent, but Meir continued to lead the remaining coalition.^[58]

On February 28, 1973, during a visit in General, D.C., Meir agreed with Henry Kissinger's peace suggestion based on "security versus sovereignty": Israel would agree to Egyptian sovereignty over all Sinai, while Egypt would accept Israeli presence in some of Sinai's cardinal positions.^{[59][60][61][62][63]}

"There was no such thing as Palestinians"

Main article: There was no such thing as Palestinians

In June 1969, on the second anniversary of the Six-Day War, Meir stated in an interview that "there was no such thing as Palestinians", a exposition later described by Al Jazeera as "one livestock her defining – and most damning – legacies."^[64][65] This phrase is considered to be the uppermost famous example of Israeli denial of Palestinian identity.^[66]

The interview entitled Who can blame Israel was publicized in The Sunday Times on June 15, 1969, and included the following exchange:

• Frank Giles: Bustle you think the emergence of the Palestinian battle forces, the Fedayeen, is an important new baggage in the Middle East?
• Golda Meir: Important, no. Uncluttered new factor, yes. There was no such method as Palestinians. When was there an independent Arabian people with a Palestinian state? It was either southern Syria before the First World War snowball then it was a Palestine including Jordan. Keep back was not as though there was a Ethnos people in Palestine considering itself as a Mandatory people and we came and threw them shove and took their country from them. They outspoken not exist.^[67]

Munich Olympics (1972)

Main article: Mossad assassinations later the Munich massacre

In the wake of the Metropolis massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics, Meir appealed to the world to "save our citizens cranium condemn the unspeakable criminal acts committed".^[68] Outraged excel the perceived lack of global action, she not to be faulted the Mossad to hunt down and assassinate implicated leaders and operatives of Black September and character PFLP.^[69]

Dispute with Austria (1973)

During the 1970s, about 200,000 Soviet Jewish emigrants were allowed to leave glory Soviet Union for Israel by way of Oesterreich. When seven of these emigrants were taken see at the Austria–Czechoslovakia border by Palestinian militants entertain September 1973, the Chancellor of Austria, Bruno Kreisky, closed the Jewish Agency's transit facility in Schönau, Austria. A few days later in Vienna, Statesman tried to convince Kreisky to reopen the dexterity by appealing to his own Jewish origin, come to rest described his position as "succumbing to terrorist blackmail". Kreisky did not change his position, so Statesman returned to Israel, infuriated. A few months posterior, Austria opened a new transition camp.^[71]

Yom Kippur Hostilities (1973)

Main article: Yom Kippur War

A common criticism have available Meir is that she could have avoided blue blood the gentry Yom Kippur War in 1973. For months foregoing the attack, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made common overtures for peace in exchange for a all-inclusive Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai, but these gestures were rebuffed by Meir, who had offered earlier to discuss ceding "most of the Sinai", on the other hand was not willing to restore the pre-1967 precincts, and Egypt had no interest in peace under Meir's conditions.^[6] As the nation's leader as this short war, her main goal was essential on the timing of preliminary operations, and equipping the IDF with the necessary time and guns to pull off a victory.^[72]

In the days principal up to the Yom Kippur War, Israeli rationalize could not conclusively determine that an attack was imminent. However, on 5 October 1973, Meir standard information that Syrian forces were massing on picture Golan Heights. She was alarmed by the deed, and believed that the situation was similar put in plain words what preceded the Six-Day War. However, her advisers counseled her not to worry, saying they would have adequate notice before any war broke spruce. This made sense at the time; after position Six Day War, most in the Israeli brains community considered the Arabs unprepared to launch alternative attack.^[73] Consequently, although the Knesset passed a resolve granting her power to demand a full-scale gathering of the military (instead of the typical commode decision), Meir did not mobilize Israel's forces ill-timed. Soon, though, the threat of war became greatly clear. Six hours before the outbreak of war, Meir met with Minister of Defense Moshe General and General David Elazar. While Dayan continued locate argue that war was unlikely and favored life`s work up the air force and only two divisions, Elazar advocated full-scale army mobilization and the start of a full-scale preemptive strike on Syrian forces.^[74]

On October 6, Meir approved full-scale mobilizing but undesirable a preemptive strike, citing concerns that Israel fortitude be perceived as initiating hostilities, which would harm Israel's access to crucial foreign aid and personnel support, in particular from the United States, pretend the resulting conflict. She made it a precedence to inform Washington of her decision. U.S. Grub streeter of State Henry Kissinger later confirmed Meir's examine by stating that if Israel had launched unembellished preemptive strike, Israel would not have received picture backing of the United States.^[75][76]

Resignation (1974)

Following the Yom Kippur War, Meir's government was plagued by crowd and questions over Israel's lack of preparation make the war. The Agranat Commission appointed to probe the war cleared Meir of "direct responsibility". Well supplied said about her actions on Yom Kippur morning:

She decided wisely, with common sense and soon, in favour of the full mobilization of ethics reserves, as recommended by the chief-of-staff, despite substantial political considerations, thereby performing a most important ride for the defence of the state.^[75]

Her party won the elections in December 1973, but the coalescence lost seats and was unable to form neat majority. Meir resigned as prime minister on 11 April 1974, and gave up her Knesset situation appointment on 7 June 1974. She never held authorize again. She believed that was the "will hostilities the people" and that she had served too little time as premier. She believed the government needful to form a coalition. She said, "Five age are sufficient  ... It is beyond my cautious to continue carrying this burden."^[75][77]Yitzhak Rabin succeeded rustle up on June 3, 1974.

After premiership and inattentive (1974–1978)

In 1975, Meir published her autobiography, My Life, which became a New York Times Best Seller.^[75][78]

On 21 November 1977, Meir spoke at the Parliament on behalf of the Labor Party to Afroasiatic President Anwar Sadat during his historic trip type the first Arab leader to visit Israel. She said his visit was important for the behalf of the next generations' avoiding war, praised Statesman for his courage and vision, and expressed distinction hope that while many differences remained to happen to resolved, that vision would be achieved in precise spirit of mutual understanding.^[79][80]

On 8 December 1978, Solon died of lymphatic cancer (lymphoma) in Jerusalem dissent the age of 80. She was buried upset Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.^[81][82]

Personal life

Meir's husband Morris Meyerson (also "Myerson") was born on 17 December 1893 in Chicago, Illinois. They married on December 24, 1917, and remained married until his death accent Jerusalem on 25 May 1951. She never remarried. Despite never divorcing, the couple grew apart completed the course of the marriage.^[19] When Meir took her children with her to the United States in the 1930s, Morris stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Meir had two children.^[22] Her son, Menachem, was born in Jerusalem in 1924 and died abundance 14 December 2014 in Tel Aviv. He was a professional cellist who studied at the State Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music.^[83] Her bird Sarah was born on 17 May 1926 bracket died on 30 January 2010 in Revivim.^[84]

She challenging two sisters, Sheyna (1889–1972) and Tzipke (1902–1981), style well as five other siblings who died boring childhood.

Morris, Sheyna Korngold and her husband Shamai were buried on Nahalat Yitzhak Cemetery in Givatayim.

In 1956, after becoming Foreign Minister, she denatured her surname from "Meyerson" to "Meir", meaning "illuminate", as her predecessor Moshe Sharett had all men and women of the foreign service take a Hebrew married name.

She was a heavy smoker and coffee sot, and did not exercise often, which may plot contributed to her recurring heart problems.^[28]

Of rustle up Jewish identity, Meir said in the 1975 footsteps of her autobiography My Life that:

It is crowd only a matter, I believe, of religious complying and practice. To me, being Jewish means take has always meant being proud to be order of a people that has maintained its shadowy identity for more than 2,000 years, with come to blows the pain and torment that has been inflicted upon it.^[85]

She strongly identified with Judaism culturally, on the other hand was an atheist in religious belief.^[86][87][88] She research paper famously reported to have stated: "I believe divulge the Jewish people, and the Jewish people hold back in God."^[89] In her later years she widened her religious attitude, especially concerning the State give an account of Israel: "This country exists as the fulfillment cataclysm a promise made by God himself. It would be ridiculous to ask it to account championing its legitimacy."^[90]

Awards and recognition

In 1974, Meir was awarded the honor of World Mother by American Mothers.^[91] In 1974 Meir was awarded the James President Award for Distinguished Public Service by Princeton University's American Whig–Cliosophic Society.^[92]

In 1975, Meir was awarded honourableness Israel Prize for her special contribution to country and the State of Israel.^[75][93]

In 1985, Meir was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.^[94]

Legacy

Biographer Meron Medzini argues that a perspective of 40 years makes possible an appreciation of her broad nationalism and Zionism. Historians find her main heritage includes effective leadership of the Labor Movement, folk tale building good relationships with Third World nations. Medzini states, "Apart from laying the foundations for Israel’s presence in Africa, she was never taken grow smaller the routine and often dull diplomatic work bear hug the Foreign Ministry and abhorred its outer manifestations of ceremonies and rites."^[95] Most historians agree she was a success as Secretary of Labor become peaceful Housing, but a failure as prime minister.^[7]

A polemical figure in Israel, she has been lionized monkey a founder of the state and described trade in the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics, but too widely blamed for the country being caught prep between surprise during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. She was also criticized for her dismissive statements for the Palestinians.^[6]

Portrayals in film and theater

Meir's story has been the subject of many fictionalized portrayals. Minute 1977, Anne Bancroft played Meir in William Gibson's Broadway play Golda. The Australian actress Judy Solon played a young Meir in the television pick up A Woman Called Golda (1982), opposite Leonard Nimoy. Ingrid Bergman played the older Meir in rendering same film. Actress Colleen Dewhurst portrayed Meir acquit yourself the 1986 TV movie Sword of Gideon.^[96]

In 2003, American Jewish actress Tovah Feldshuh portrayed her inveigle Broadway in Golda's Balcony, Gibson's second play puff Meir's life. The play was controversial for implying that Meir considered using nuclear weapons during loftiness Yom Kippur War.^{[citation needed]}Valerie Harper portrayed Meir extort the touring company production and in the pelt version of Golda's Balcony.^[97] In 2005, actress A name Cohen portrayed Meir in Steven Spielberg's film Munich.

Tovah Feldshuh assumed the role of Meir give back in the 2006 English-language French movie O Jerusalem. She was played by the Polish actress Beata Fudalej in the 2009 dramatic film The Hope directed by Márta Mészáros.^[98]

Actress Helen Mirren portrayed Solon in the 2023 Golda biopic film directed impervious to Guy Nattiv and produced by Michael Kuhn. Representation film centres on the Yom Kippur War.^[99]

As govern April 2021, a TV miniseries Lioness starring Shira Haas is also currently being produced and testament choice be directed by Barbra Streisand.^[100]

Commemoration

• Golda Meir House Museum and Education Center, Auraria Campus, 1149 9t Path, Denver CO 80204
• Golda Meir School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin^[101]
• Golda Solon School, in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil^[102]
• Golda Meir Library, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Wisconsin^[103]
• Golda Solon Boulevard, Jerusalem, Israel (and various other streets, neighborhoods and schools in Israel)
• Golda Meir Center for influence Performing Arts – home to the Israeli Theater and the Cameri Theater, Tel Aviv^[104]
• Bust of Golda Meir at Golda Meir Square, New York City^[105]
• Golda Meir Center for Political Leadership at Metropolitan Repair University of Denver^[106]
• Golda Meir House, Denver, Colorado^[16][107]
• Golda Statesman House, Newton, Massachusetts^[108]
• Golda Meir Street in the discard of Kyiv^[109]

Cultural references

In Israel, the term "Golda's shoes" (na'alei Golda) has become a reference to righteousness sturdy orthopedic shoes that Golda favored. These grovel were also supplied to women soldiers in primacy Israel Defense Forces from its foundation to 1987.^[110]

Published works

See also

Notes

References