Golda Meir

Meir, Golda (1898–1978), Israeli leader, prime minister of Israel (1969–74). Born Golda Mabovitch in Kiev, USSR, she was raised in the United States and emigrated to Palestine in 1921. She was a prominent figure in the establishment of the State of Israel (1948). Elected to the Knesset (parliament) in 1949, Meir became foreign minister in 1956; in 1966 she was elected general secretary of the dominant Mapai party, later the Israel Labor Party (1968). In 1969 she succeeded Levi Eshkol as premier and formed a broad coalition government. During her time in office the Israelis fought off a 1973 Syrian-Egyptian surprise attack (the Yom Kippur War). In 1974 she resigned because of criticism of her lack of preparedness for that war.

See also: Israel.