Head of Political Department, Jewish Agency
"We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."
Golda Meir was not a general in 1948 — but she may have saved Israel more than any general. Born in Kyiv and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she had immigrated to Palestine in 1921. By 1948 she was head of the Jewish Agency's political department — effectively Israel's pre-state foreign minister. In January 1948, she traveled to the United States and in a series of speeches to American Jewish audiences raised $50 million (equivalent to over $600 million today) in six weeks — money that bought the weapons that armed Israel's military. Without that money, Israel might not have survived the first weeks of the Arab invasion. She also made the secret diplomatic mission to King Abdullah in the days before independence, trying and failing to prevent Jordanian intervention. After the war, she became Israel's first ambassador to the Soviet Union, then Foreign Minister, then Prime Minister — serving from 1969 to 1974.
Did you know?
Ten days before Israel declared independence, Meir disguised herself in Arab dress and secretly met King Abdullah I in Amman, trying to persuade him not to join the invasion. He told her he couldn't stand alone against the Arab world. The next month they were at war.
April – July 1948 · 2,000 total casualties
Jerusalem's divided outcome shaped the entire region's future. The Old City — including the Western Wall — remained under Jordanian control until 1967. The cease-fire line through the city became the 'Green Line' that defines Israeli-Palestinian borders to this day.
May 25 – June 18, 1948 · 1,100 total casualties
Latrun was Israel's costliest defeat of the war and a rare Arab Legion success. Unable to take the fortress, Israel instead built the 'Burma Road' — a bypass through the hills — to break the Jerusalem siege. The fortress itself remained in Jordanian hands until 1967.
May 3, 1898
🌅 Birth
Born in Kyiv, Russian Empire
1906
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Family emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1921
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Immigrated to Palestine; joined Kibbutz Merhavia
January 1948
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Raised $50 million for arms in American fundraising tour
May 10, 1948
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Secret meeting with King Abdullah I in Amman — failed to prevent invasion
1948–1949
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Served as Israel's first ambassador to the Soviet Union
December 8, 1978
✝️ Death
Died in Jerusalem, age 80