The excitement could be felt all across Israel. On March 1, it was reported that US entertainment giant MGM will produce a new miniseries about the life of Golda Meir, the only woman to date to serve as prime minister in Israel. Barbara Streisand, another famous Jewish woman, would produce the series, based on the book “Lioness” by the American-Jewish author Francine Klagsbrun. Israeli actress Shira Haas would play the role of Golda.
Israelis have good reason to take pride in Golda Meir. She remains an international icon of female political leadership, more than 50 years since she was first sworn in as prime minister in 1969. She was a trailblazer — only the third woman to serve as head of government anywhere, and she presided over a government made up entirely of men, including the three heads of Israel’s security establishment, the directors of the Mossad and Shin Bet, and the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.