Golda Meir Biography

Government agencies expand housing and employment programmes for newcomers.

Appointed Minister of Labour

Supports reception and settlement of immigrants arriving from Yemen.

Brings 113,000 Jews to Israel by airlift from Iraq

From 1950 to 1952, Operation Ezra & Nehemiah brings almost all the Iraqi Jews to Israel, 1st by way of Cyprus, then directly to Israel

Brings 47,000 Yemeni Jews to Israel

From 1950 to 1952, Operation Ezra & Nehemiah brings almost all the Iraqi Jews to Israel, 1st by way of Cyprus, then directly to Israel

Appointed Foreign Minister

Defends Israel's position during United Nations debate over the Sinai Campaign.

Meir argues that Israeli action is tied to border attacks and restrictions on navigation.

Merges the Mapai Party with 2 other left wing parties to form the Israel Labour Party

Resigns from the Government to join the Mapai Party

Merges the Mapai Party with 2 other left wing parties to form the Israel Labour Party

Merges the Mapai Party with 2 other left wing parties to form the Israel Labour Party

Golda Meir founds the Labour Party

Golda Meir becomes the 4th Prime Minister of Israel

The Israeli Army makes the first of four unsuccessful assaults on Arab forces in the town of Latrun, Israel

The Israeli destroyer "Eilat" is targeted by an Egyptian surface-to-surface missile, 47 Israeli sailors are killed. Israel retaliates by shelling Egyptian refineries along the Suez Canal, the "War of Attrition," which lasts until August 1970

Israel retaliates by shelling Egyptian refineries along the Suez Canal, the "War of Attrition," which lasts until August 1970

Israel retaliates by shelling Egyptian refineries along the Suez Canal, the "War of Attrition," which lasts until August 1970

Israeli fighter jets attack the suburbs of Cairo

The Israeli Government passes its initial decision to establish settlements in Gaza

Libya orders the confiscation of all Jewish property

The war ends after a direct confrontation between Israeli and Soviet forces, in which Israel downed six Soviet aircraft. The terms of the agreement call for the Egyptians not to install any new surface-to-air missiles close to the Suez Canal, within weeks of the ceasefire, the Egyptians violate the agreement

The terms of the agreement call for the Egyptians not to install any new surface-to-air missiles close to the Suez Canal, within weeks of the ceasefire, the Egyptians violate the agreement

The PLO is driven out of Jordan and forced to move to Lebanon

The PFLP-GC plant a time bomb on a Swissair jet that blows up on a flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv, all 47 aboard are killed

Nixon massively increases US aid for Israel, $634m in 1971, $93m in 1970 in line with the Nixon doctrine proclaimed in July 1969, providing military & economic assistance to local powers to maintain the "regional order"

Nixon massively increases US aid for Israel, $634m in 1971, $93m in 1970 in line with the Nixon doctrine proclaimed in July 1969, providing military & economic assistance to local powers to maintain the "regional order"

Sadat offers a full peace agreement including security guarantees if Israel returns to 1967 borders

Black September, which Israel claims is a Fatah front under Ali Hasan Salameh & Salah Khalaf

Israel responds to the Munich massacre with Operation Spring of Youth and Operation Wrath of God, a series of Israeli air strikes and assassinations of those Israel claimed were planners of the killings. Following the Munich attack, the Israeli Government, headed by Prime Minister Golda Meir, orders Mossad to hunt down those known to have been involved, Operation Bayonet

The Munich attackers demand the release and safe passage to Egypt of 234 Palestinians and non-Arabs jailed in Israel, along with two German terrorists held by the German penitentiary system, Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof

Two days after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics, Israel retaliated by bombing ten PLO bases in Syria and Lebanon

This record states: Golda Meir created Committee X, a small group of Government officials tasked with formulating an Israeli response, with herself and Defence Minister Moshe Dayan at the head.

This record states: She also appointed General Aharon Yariv as her Advisor on Counterterrorism; he, along with Mossad Director Zvi Zamir, took the principal role in directing the ensuing operation.

This record states: The committee came to the conclusion that, to deter future violent incidents against Israel, they needed to assassinate those who had supported or carried out the Munich massacre, and in dramatic fashion.

Following the Munich attack, the Israeli Government, headed by Prime Minister Golda Meir, orders Mossad to hunt down those known to have been involved, Operation Bayonet

Israel responds to the Munich massacre with Operation Spring of Youth and Operation Wrath of God, a series of Israeli air strikes and assassinations of those Israel claimed were planners of the killings

Authorized by Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the autumn of 1972, the operation is believed to have continued for over twenty years.

Golda Meir created Committee X, a small group of Government officials tasked with formulating an Israeli response, with herself and Defence Minister Moshe Dayan at the head.

Operation "Bayonet", a covert operation directed by the Mossad to assassinate individuals suspected of being involved in the 1972 Munich massacre in which 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were killed.

The targets were members of the Palestinian armed militant group Black September and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operatives.

This record states: Following the Munich attack, the Israeli Government, headed by Prime Minister Golda Meir, orders Mossad to hunt down those known to have been involved, Operation Bayonet.

This record states: She also appointed General Aharon Yariv as her Advisor on Counterterrorism; he, along with Mossad Director Zvi Zamir, took the principal role in directing the ensuing operation.

This record states: The committee came to the conclusion that, to deter future violent incidents against Israel, they needed to assassinate those who had supported or carried out the Munich massacre, and in dramatic fashion.

Two days after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics, Israel retaliated by bombing ten PLO bases in Syria and Lebanon.

Israel responds to the Munich massacre with Operation Spring of Youth and Operation Wrath of God, a series of Israeli air strikes and assassinations of those Israel claimed were planners of the killings

Israel responds to the Munich massacre with Operation Spring of Youth and Operation Wrath of God, a series of Israeli air strikes and assassinations of those Israel claimed were planners of the killings

Israel establishes two army posts in Gaza, which later become the communities of Netzarim and Kfar Darom

The Munich attackers demand the release and safe passage to Egypt of 234 Palestinians and non-Arabs jailed in Israel, along with two German terrorists held by the German penitentiary system, Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof

The United States agrees to sell 42 F-4 Phantom jets to Israel

Sabena aircraft at Lod Intl, Tel Aviv, is captured by Palestinians

Three militants of the Japanese Red Army (PFL) stage a machine-gun and hand-grenade attack at the Lod Airport in Israel

Three militants of the Japanese Red Army (PFL) stage a machine-gun and hand-grenade attack at the Lod Airport in Israel

Three militants of the Japanese Red Army (PFL) stage a machine-gun and hand-grenade attack at the Lod Airport in Israel

German Chancellor Willy Brandt visits Israel

Meir appeals to other countries to "save our citizens and condemn the unspeakable criminal acts committed"

Massacre of 11 Israeli athletes

Terror strikes the Munich Olympic games in West Germany as Arab guerrillas attack the Israeli delegation, Palestinian terrorists kill 2 athletes and take 9 others and their coaches hostage. Meir appeals to other countries to "save our citizens and condemn the unspeakable criminal acts committed"

Israeli planes bomb Palestinian targets in Syria and Lebanon

Israeli planes bomb Palestinian targets in Syria and Lebanon

Israeli planes bomb Palestinian targets in Syria and Lebanon

A Black September letter bomb kills Ami Shehori, a Israeli attache at the embassy in London

A Black September letter bomb kills Ami Shehori, a Israeli attache at the embassy in London

Pope Paul VI has an audience with Golda Meir at the Vatican. 1st Israeli head of state to be received by the Pope

Israel and Egypt sign a weapons accord

Israeli fighter planes shoot down a Libyan Airlines jet over the Sinai Desert, killing 108 people

Israeli fighter planes shoot down a Libyan Airlines jet over the Sinai Desert, killing 108 people

Syria and Israel engage in a dogfight over the Mediterranean Sea

Israel is taken by surprise as Egypt attacks across the Suez Canal and Syria attacks on the Golan Heights.

During the Yom Kippur War, Israel goes on nuclear alert for the first time, but succeeds using only conventional forces

Egypt and Syria attack Israel on Yom Kippur, beginning the October War.

Convenes emergency meetings after the surprise Egyptian-Syrian attack begins.

Appeals to Washington for urgent resupply as Israeli losses mount.

Israeli forces begin a counteroffensive on the Syrian front in the Golan Heights.

Egyptian armored forces move eastward in Sinai before being repulsed by Israeli defenses.

Israeli tanks cross the Suez Canal during the counteroffensive against Egypt.

Israeli forces cross the Suez Canal and begin threatening Egyptian rear areas.

Arab oil embargo

The USA sends $2.2 billion in military aid to Israel to counter Soviet arms shipments to Egypt

The USA sends $2.2 billion in military aid to Israel to counter Soviet arms shipments to Egypt

Adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 338

Agrees to halt fighting after United Nations Security Council Resolution 338 calls for a ceasefire.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 338 calls for a ceasefire in the war.

Adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 338

Israel and Egypt sign a ceasefire agreement after the main fighting has ended.

Egypt and Israel exchange prisoners of war after postwar negotiations.

Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, US and USSR leaders meet in Geneva

Golda Meir announces her resignation as Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin replaces Golda Meir

Death of Golda Meir (80), PM of Israel from 1969 to 1974, dies of cancer in Jerusalem