While credit toward Israel’s sovereignty can go toward many people, seven prominent leaders have frequently been cited for the nation’s independence in 1949. Collectively, they are known as the founders of Israel.
These persons of varied backgrounds are among Israel’s most notable founders in the post-World War II era. All of the former leaders have since died, the last survivor being
Ariel Sharon. He suffered a stroke in 2006 and succumbed to his condition eight years later.
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Sharon, who began his career as a general of the Israeli army, went on to serve as a prominent politician in the country. Born in 1928, he grew up in an agricultural community, Kfar Malal, in what was then known as the British Mandate of Palestine.
Golda Meir — whose roles in Israel included prime minister, minister of labor, and foreign minister — was born in Keiv, Ukraine, in 1898 and eventually emigrated into the U.S. and served as a teacher in Milwaukee. During her time in Wisconsin’s largest city, Meir became involved in the Zionist organization, which foreshadowed her eventual foray into Israeli leadership.
The Zionism movement began in the late 1890s, around the time of Meir’s birth. It has roots going back to the Russian empire as a territorial Jewish state as a means of ending long-running persecution.
David Ben-Gurion — described as
Israel’s founding father, according to the International Business Times — was a native of Poland. Ben-Gurion served as Israel’s first prime minister and was the first person to sign the country’s Declaration of Independence, a document he also helped write.
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Another of the founders of Israel was
Moshe Dayan. He was born on Kibbutz Degania Alef, near the shores of Lake Kinneret in Palestine at what was then known as the Ottoman Empire. Dayan’s credits include roles as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces in the 1950s and a leadership role in the nation’s army in a 1967 war.
With roots going back to the Russian empire,
Yitzhak Shamir served as Israel’s seventh prime minister. He was born Ruzhany in the Grodno province in what today is known as Belarus. Ruzhany was a predominantly Jewish village. During his time of reign in Israel, Shamir served as a member of the Zionist group Lehi.
Abba Eban, Israel’s first ambassador of the United Nations, was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Eban also spent a significant amount of time during his formative years studying in Europe before eventually making his way over to Israel. By some accounts, Eban is considered one of the most respected diplomats in Israel’s history.
Menachem Begin had a storied history that included allegations of terrorism by the British government overseeing Palestine before the onset of World War II. Begin was born in Brest, a town that at the time was part of the Russian Empire. After founding Israel, Begin eventually went on to serve as the nation’s seventh prime minister.
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