17 March 1969

Golda Meir becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel.

Golda Meir was an Israeli politician who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974. Born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1898, she immigrated to the United States with her family when she was a child, and later moved to Palestine in 1921.

In Palestine, Meir became involved in the labor movement and eventually rose to prominence as a leader of the Zionist movement. She served in a variety of roles in the Israeli government, including as Minister of Labor and Foreign Minister, before being elected as Prime Minister in 1969.

During her time in office, Meir faced a number of challenges, including the 1973 Yom Kippur War and a global economic recession. She was known for her strong leadership and her commitment to Israel’s security, and was widely respected both in Israel and internationally.

Meir resigned as Prime Minister in 1974, citing health reasons. She passed away in 1978 at the age of 80.