Golda Meir was known for her determination, straightforwardness, and ability to make tough decisions in extreme situations. She took a firm stance against terrorists and ordered the operation that eliminated most of the organizers of the Munich massacre.

Her character and views are vividly reflected in her famous quotes, many of which remain relevant today:

Golda Meir is one of the key figures in the history of Israel and world politics. She was among those who signed the Declaration of Independence of Israel on May 14, 1948, and soon became the first ambassador of the young state to the USSR. Later, Golda held the positions of Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1969, she was elected Prime Minister and led the country for five years, including during two major tragedies: the capture and murder of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when Israel was suddenly attacked by a coalition of Arab states.

Golda Meir was known for her determination, straightforwardness, and ability to make tough decisions in extreme situations. She took a firm stance against terrorists and ordered the operation that eliminated most of the organizers of the Munich massacre.

Her character and views are vividly reflected in her famous quotes, many of which remain relevant today:

• “Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.”
• “We want to live. Our enemies want to see us dead. This leaves not much room for compromise.”
• “Peace in the Middle East will come when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.”
• “To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don’t.”
• “We prefer condemnations to condolences.”
• “We can negotiate with our neighbors. As soon as they want it, we can agree instantly. But we cannot negotiate with terrorists who simply want to destroy us.”
• “You cannot erase the past just because the present doesn’t resemble it.”
• “Life, just when it seems that everything is going well, loves to make an unexpected turn.”
• “I have long discovered that it’s easier to make people cry or gasp than to think.”
• “A person can always do a bit more than what seemed to be their limit yesterday.”
• “Once in Israel, there was a story that Ben-Gurion called me ‘the only man’ in his cabinet. What amused me was that he (or whoever made up this story) thought it was the greatest compliment that could be given to a woman. I very much doubt that any man would be flattered if I said about him that he was the only woman in the government!”

These words of Golda Meir reflect not only her worldview but also the spirit of an entire generation of Israelis who built and defended their country in difficult times.