Eshkol, Levi, << EHSH kawl, LEE vee >> (1895-1969), helped found the state of Israel and served as its prime minister from 1963 until his death. Eshkol was a capable administrator, political leader, and statesman who served in such posts as director of the ministry of defense, minister of agriculture, and minister of finance. While he was prime minister, Israel fought the Six-Day War against the Arab states in 1967. Eshkol favored Israeli cooperation with Arab states to develop the Middle East.
Eshkol was born Levi Shkolnik on Oct. 25, 1895, in Ukraine (then under Russian control). He joined the Zionist movement as a young man. In 1914, he moved to Palestine and worked as a farmer. He helped form the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) in 1920 and the Mapai (Israel Workers’ Party) in 1930. In the 1930’s, he helped Jews in Germany move to Palestine. He helped manage the Haganah, the Jewish underground organization that fought against British mandate forces and against Palestinians opposed to the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine. Eshkol died on Feb. 26, 1969.
