Prime Minister of Israel
"We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."
Golda Meir was 75 years old and suffering from lymphoma when the Yom Kippur War began. Born in Kiev and raised in Milwaukee, she had spent her entire adult life building the Jewish state. When the attack came, she was told by her generals that Israel might lose. She authorized the assembly of 13 nuclear warheads as a last resort — a signal to the US that triggered the massive American airlift that saved Israel. After the war, the Agranat Commission found intelligence failures throughout the system. Meir took political responsibility and resigned, unable to forgive herself for the initial failure to heed the warning signs.
Did you know?
Meir secretly flew to Jordan to meet King Hussein two weeks before the war, where he warned her that Syria and Egypt were preparing to attack. She returned and ordered a partial mobilization — but pulled back when her advisors assured her war was unlikely.
October 6–9, 1973 · 3,000 total casualties
The canal crossing was Egypt's greatest military achievement since Thutmose III. The use of high-pressure water hoses to breach Israeli sand fortifications — a suggestion by a civilian engineer — was a stroke of operational ingenuity. The shock to Israeli military confidence was profound. The myth of Israeli invincibility, born in 1967, died on October 6, 1973.
October 6–9, 1973 · 3,500 total casualties
The Valley of Tears was arguably the most critical battle of the war. If Syria had broken through the Golan, their armor would have been 30 miles from Haifa with nothing to stop them. The desperate three-day stand by outnumbered Israeli tank crews — many fighting in damaged vehicles — bought the time for reinforcements to arrive. The battle is studied in military academies worldwide as a case study in armored warfare and command under pressure.
May 3, 1898
🌅 Birth
Born in Kiev, Russian Empire
1906
milestone
Family immigrates to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1921
milestone
Immigrated to Palestine; joined kibbutz Merhavia
March 1969
milestone
Became Prime Minister of Israel
October 6, 1973
⚔️ Battle
Received news of Yom Kippur attack; authorized emergency mobilization
December 8, 1978
✝️ Death
Died in Jerusalem, age 80