(1898-1978) A Jewish
Israeli political figure of Russian and American origin. Meir, a supporter of socialist
Labor Zionism, immigrated to
Palestine in 1921. She worked in several key Jewish Zionist organizations prior to the 1948 establishment of the State of
Israel, including the
Histadrut trade union and the
Jewish Agency. One of the signatories of Israel's Declaration of Independence, Meir served as an official in the government of Israel in various capacities, including Minister of Labor from 1949-1956, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1956-1966 and Prime Minister from 1969-1974. She is the only Israeli woman ever elected to the position of Prime Minister. Meir resigned in 1974 after being criticized both internally and abroad for the unpreparedness of the Israeli military prior to the
1973 War. Controversial remarks she made include suggestions that the
Palestinian people did not exist, and that peace will come when Arabs love their children more than they hate Israelis, and, in reference to Israel's Black Panthers, that they're not "nice boys." See "
Israel's Iron Lady unfiltered: 17 Golda Meir quotes on her 117th birthday," Judd Yadid, Haaretz, May 3, 2015.