My Life: The Iron Lady of Israel, Golda Meir - XXI

Golda Meir, the prime minister of Israel

Golda could not think of retiring any time soon, the problem of her succession was not easy to find a solution for. She wanted to retire certainly, there were speculations about her retirement but the situation was too complex to think of retirement.

The complex situation

There was a complex situation to explain when a Libyan plane that strayed over the Sinai Peninsula was shot down, the 106 lives were lost. She had to explain the situation in which the decision was taken. She was invited to the Council of Europe, but before that, the transit camp in Austria near Vienna was shut down as Arabs succeeded in convincing. It was valuable for Jews as they could use it on their way to Israel. The situation in Russia was very difficult, Jews who used to apply for immigration to Israel had to wait for years to get permission. No prior notice used to be given, but they had to leave the country within a week or at the most 10 days. Some were given a period of just a few hours. A lot of technicalities had to be followed, they had to leave the country to never see the people they lived with as long as they were alive. They were given transit visas when they reached the border. The stay was never long, just a couple of days before they boarded buses. There were a million Jews in Russia then.
In 1973 September 7 Russian Jews were kidnapped by the Arab terrorists and demanded to shut down the transit camp which was promptly done by the Austrian government. Though the council had her address printed, she thought of keeping it aside and talking. She focused on the point of closing of transit camp, she appealed not to give in to terrorists' demands which would set them free. The choice was, she said, whether the country wanted to be kept out of the bounds of terrorists or Jews.

On her way back she was supposed to meet the Austrian leader, who ultimately was not ready to reconsider and let the Jews use the transit facility. He too was a Jew.

Yom Kippur war

At home awaited a war in October 1973, the Yom Kippur War. She considered herself to be in the position of ultimate responsibility. The state faced a near disaster situation or a nightmare or the greatest threat. In 27 years this was the 5th war thrust upon Israel. Israel won all the wars, but Syria and Egypt knew that they were defeated despite their initial gains. Israel lost 2500 people.

She noted that in May they received the information of reinforcement of troops by these two countries. Israel was prepared for any such thing, but the tension relaxed somehow, Golda noted. In September too intelligence was received, on the 13th the battle started but 13 MIGs were downed. The intelligence people thought there would not be a strong reaction, but the tension prevailed and spread in Egypt, but the assessment of the army was the same.

When Golda returned from Europe, she had a meeting with the army chiefs and got the situation explained in great detail. There were some disturbing things, but the assessment of the army was still the same. It could not be judged that war was unavoidable. Yom Kippur was to begin next Friday when all Jews unite, they go synagogue to pray and atone for the sins they might have committed in the past year. Some keep fast, ( the Indian way of describing) don't eat in public, and go to a synagogue. It is a day very significant for Jews. The country comes to a sort of standstill. Everything is closed. Even soldiers try to be at home with their families.

A small piece of information that troubled Golda

There was a report of Russian advisers packing up, leaving the country hastily. Golda thought it was unusual, she thought her intuition was probably misleading. She talked to the defence minister and chief-of-staff too, but she was assured that they were sure to receive early warning. The things were taken care of. Golda could not keep this piece of information aside. She scheduled an emergency meeting with 9 ministers who were available in Tel Aviv as she was there. She spoke her mind and was decided that if necessary the defence minister and Golda could take a decision. Her mind still could not accept the explanation.

She wrote that she should have paid attention to her inner voice. She felt that she who was accustomed to deciding such situations failed to make that decision. Later throughout the war, she made all the necessary decisions. She wrote she could never be the same person she was before the war.

She could not sit with the people who were invited at home, she went to sleep but could not sleep either. She dozed off and around 4 a.m. the phone rang, the intelligence source received the information about the joint attack Egypt and Syria planned late in the afternoon. The meeting was called early in the morning. She thought the nation had to be in the best possible position. She decided against the first strike with a heavy heart as it could have shown Israel as the aggressor. When the cabinet met at noon the shooting started the first air-raid siren could be heard in Tel Aviv.

 The war broke out

The country had to fight on two fronts against the enemy who were preparing for years to attack Israel. Israel was outnumbered in weapons and was at a great psychological disadvantage point. The assumptions were proved to be wrong. It was a worst situation. The boys fought like lions on the canal and on the Golan heights and fell. She could not keep herself away from her office as her ministers kept reaching her for reports or decisions. Even in that phase, all had faith in the spirit of defence forces and their ability to face any challenge and be victorious but the loss of human lives was like a knife thrust into the heart.