Golda Meir

===Resignation (1974)===
[[File:Голда Меїр.JPG|thumb|Golda Meir Memorial Plaque on the building where she was born (5-A Baseina Street, [[Kyiv]])]]
Following the Yom Kippur War, Meir's government was plagued by infighting and questions over Israel's lack of preparation for the war. The [[Agranat Commission]] appointed to investigate the war cleared Meir of "direct responsibility". It said about her actions on Yom Kippur morning:

{{quote|She decided wisely, with common sense and speedily, in favour of the full mobilization of the reserves, as recommended by the chief-of-staff, despite weighty political considerations, thereby performing a most important service for the defence of the state.<ref name="ml">{{Cite book |last=Meir |first=Golda |url=https://archive.org/details/mylifemeir00meir |title=My Life |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons |year=1975 |isbn=9780399116698 |url-access=registration}}</ref>}}

Her party won the elections in December 1973, but the coalition lost seats and was unable to form a majority. Meir resigned as prime minister on 11 April 1974, and gave up her Knesset seat on 7 June 1974. She never held office again. She believed that was the "will of the people" and that she had served enough time as premier. She believed the government needed to form a coalition. She said, "Five years are sufficient&nbsp; ... It is beyond my strength to continue carrying this burden."<ref name=ml/><ref>[http://www.zionism-israel.com/bio/golda_meir_biography.htm Biography of Golda Meir], Zionism and Israel</ref> [[Yitzhak Rabin]] succeeded her on June 3, 1974.