Following Olmert's resignation as party leader in September 2008, Livni appeared on the verge of becoming Israel's first female prime minister since Golda Meir.

CNN: Kadima hoping to hold onto power

The point is the big ones, the real ones, the Thatchers and Indira Gandhis and Golda Meirs and Angela Merkels, never play the boo-hoo game.

WSJ: Things Are Tough All Over

In each of its wars, Israel has been united and galvanized by charismatic leaders who came to the fore David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir .

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | ��J��Accuse��: Needed Context Before Jenin Inquiry Morphs into an International Witchhunt against Israel

Israeli leader Golda Meir was his client at one point.

WSJ: Max Kampelman, Cold War Arms Negotiator, Dies at 92

Rabin, who fought in Israel's 1948 war for independence, will be buried with full military honors Monday at the Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jewish west Jerusalem, where the remains of Zionist founder Theodor Herzl and former prime ministers Levi Eshkol and Golda Meir were laid to rest.

CNN: Rabin's widow leads mourners