On this day in 1969, 70-year-old Golda Meir makes history when she is elected as Israel’s first female prime minister. She was the country’s fourth prime minister and is still the only woman to have held this post.
Meir, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine and raised in Wisconsin, began her career as a Zionist labour organiser, and later held several positions in Israeli government, including Minister of Labor and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Upon the sudden death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in 1969, Meir was chosen as his successor.
During her tenure, Meir gained a reputation as a savvy diplomat. She saw the country through the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, after Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. Although Israel was victorious, over 2,500 Israelis died, and many criticized the government for a lack of preparedness.
Due in part to her age and ailing health, Meir resigned in October 1974. She was succeeded by Yitzhak Rabin.
Meir died in Jerusalem on December 8, 1978, at the age of 80. —History
