Ariel Sharon

Ariel Sharon official portrait (D644-090)

Ariel Sharon Headshot.jpg Sharon in 2001

Ariel Sharon (Hebrew: אַרִיאֵל שָׁרוֹן

26 February 1928 – 11 January 2014) was an Israeli general and politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 to 2006. He was a commander in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from its inception in 1948, and played a key role in several conflicts, including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, and the Yom Kippur War.

Early Life and Military Career

Ariel Sharon was born Ariel Scheinermann in Kfar Malal, Mandatory Palestine, to a family of Russian-Jewish immigrants. He joined the Haganah at a young age and later became a prominent member of the IDF. Sharon founded and led Unit 101, an elite commando unit, and later commanded the Paratroopers Brigade and the Southern Command.

Political Career

Sharon entered politics in the 1970s, joining the Likud party. He held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Defense, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. As Minister of Defense, he orchestrated the 1982 Lebanon War, which led to the controversial Sabra and Shatila massacre.

In 2001, Sharon was elected Prime Minister of Israel. His tenure was marked by the Second Intifada and the implementation of the Gaza Disengagement Plan, which involved the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip.

Health and Death

In 2006, Sharon suffered a severe stroke that left him in a coma until his death in 2014. He was succeeded by Ehud Olmert as Prime Minister.

Legacy

Ariel Sharon remains a controversial figure in Israeli history. He is remembered for his military prowess and his role in shaping Israel's security policies, but also for the controversies surrounding his actions in Lebanon and the Gaza Disengagement Plan.

See Also

• Prime Minister of Israel
• Likud
• Kadima
• Israel Defense Forces
• Second Intifada
• Gaza Disengagement Plan