Horace Walpole
English writer, art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician (1717-1797)
Israeli statesman, a founder of the Israeli Labor Party and Prime Minister (1895-1969)
Levi Eshkol was the third Prime Minister of Israel, serving from 1963 until his death in 1969. He was a founder of the Israeli Labor Party and held numerous senior roles, including Minister of Defense and Minister of Finance. Eshkol led Israel during and after the Six-Day War and was the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.
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Occupation
About the Levi Eshkol
Levi Eshkoland Minister of Financeand won, remaining in office for six consecutive years. Shortly after taking office, Eshkol made several significant changes, among them the annulment of military rule over Israeli Arabs and a successful journey to the United States, being the first Israeli leader to be formally invited to the White House. His relations with American President Lyndon B. Johnson greatly affected Israel-United States relations and later on the Six-Day War.
Eshkol was active in the Zionist movement from a young age, immigrating to Ottoman Palestine in 1914 and working in agriculture. He was among the founders of the major institutions of the Yishuv, most importantly the Histadrut and Haganah. Eshkol was treasurer of Hapoel Hatzair political party and treasurer of the Agricultural Center. In 1929, he was elected as chairman of the settlement committee within the Zionist Congress, taking a leading role in enabling conditions for new construction. In 1937, Eshkol founded Mekorot water company and was its director until 1951. Simultaneously, he held positions at the Haganah, at Mapai and as chairman of Tel Aviv Workers’ Council. In 1948-1949, Eshkol was Director General of the Ministry of Defense and from 1948 to 1963, he was chairman of the Settlement Department of the Jewish Agency. Elected to the Second Knesset in 1951, he was soon thereafter appointed to key government roles.
Eshkol led the Israeli government during and after the Six-Day War and was the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Levi Eshkol was an Israeli statesman who served as the third Prime Minister of Israel from 1963 until his death in 1969.
Levi Eshkol served as Minister of Defense (1963–1967) and Minister of Finance (1952–1963), and was a founder of the Israeli Labor Party.
Shortly after taking office, Levi Eshkol annulled military rule over Israeli Arabs and made a successful journey to the United States, being the first Israeli leader to be formally invited to the White House.
Levi Eshkol’s relations with President Lyndon B. Johnson greatly affected Israel–United States relations and later on the Six-Day War.
Levi Eshkol was active in the Zionist movement from a young age, and was among the founders of the Histadrut, Haganah, and Mekorot water company.
Levi Eshkol led the Israeli government during and after the Six-Day War and was the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office in 1969.
Levi Eshkol was born Levi Yitzhak Shkolnik in 1895 and immigrated to Ottoman Palestine in 1914, where he worked in agriculture and was involved in the Zionist movement.