Meir, Golda

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Meir, Golda (1898–1978) Israeli stateswoman, prime minister (1969–74), b. Ukraine as Golda Mabovitch. Her family emigrated to the USA in 1906, and Meir became active in Zionism. In 1921 she emigrated to Palestine. In 1936 she became head of the Jewish labour movement. After Israeli independence, Meir became minister of labour (1949–56) and foreign minister (1956–66). She succeeded Levi Eshkol as prime minister. She was forced to resign following criticism of the government's lack of preparedness for the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

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