Do You Know Golda Meir? The Iron Lady of Israeli
Born in Kiev, Ukraine 1898 Golda and her family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1906 to escape programs running against Jews in Russia. Thereafter, Golda joined the Zionist Movement that supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In 1921, together with her husband Morris Meyerson, she left for the British Mandated territory of Palestine which included the present-day State of Israel and the West Bank.
So, who is Golda Meir and why everyone is talking about her?
Golda Meir is Israel’s first and only female prime minister. Her life revolved around taking dramatic and high-stakes decisions since her childhood. She is the “Iron Lady of Israel” who faced the Yom Kippur War as an administrator, followed by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan’s surprise attack on the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights in 1973. The chain of events demonstrated her leadership skills and administrative prowess.
She was elected in 1969 as the Prime Minister of Israel and went on to serve four terms until her resignation.
Acclaimed Hollywood actress Helen Mirren who is famously known for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen in 2006, is set to play the role of Golda Meir in an upcoming biopic from Academy Award-winning director Guy Nattiv.
“As someone who was born during the Yom Kippur War, I am honoured to tell this fascinating story. Nicholas Martin’s brilliant script dives into Golda’s final chapter as the country faces a deadly surprise attack during the holiest day of the year. A core of delusional generals undermining Golda’s judgment, all the while undergoing secret treatments for her illness. I could not be more excited to work with the legendary Miss Mirren to bring this epic, emotional and complex story to life.”
Director Guy Nattic
In past, Mirren has supported Israel several times throughout her career, including at the 29th Israel Film Festival (IFF) in Los Angeles in 2015, where she was honoured with the Career Achievement Award. Mirren lived on Kibbutz Ha’on in northern Israel after the Six-Day War and has had a few additional visits.
Separately, Israeli actress Shira Haas will also portray Golda Meir in a TV series executive produced by Barbara Streisand. The series, Lioness, will follow Meir from her birth in Kiev to her American upbringing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to her role in the formation of Israel and subsequent rise to the prime minister’s office.
Here are some more facts about Golda:
Gold was elected to the first Israeli Parliament as Minister of Labor and social insurance with the establishment of the state. In 1956, she was appointed foreign minister. In 1969, after the death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, she served the remaining term as the Prime Minister of Israel. In the same year, her party won the elections, which gave her a four-year term as prime minister.
Golda had many accomplishments to her credit: she was one of the 24 signatories who signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence which established a separate State of Israel, she was known for her honesty and strong character. And of course, she was the ‘Iron Lady’ of Israel.
Ruth Jane
