Ariel Sharon

Ariel Sharon (1928-2014) was an Israeli military commander and politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 to 2006. Born Ariel Scheinermann in Kfar Malal, Mandatory Palestine, Sharon was married twice, first to Margalit Sharon until her death in 1962, and then to Lily Sharon from 1963 until her death in 2000. He had three sons: Gur, who died in childhood, and Omri and Gilad Sharon. Sharon spent much of his life in his Sycamore Ranch in the Negev desert before suffering a massive stroke in January 2006 that left him in a coma until his death in 2014.

Sharon's military career spanned several decades and included participation in every major Israeli military operation from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War through the 1982 Lebanon War. As a commander, he was known for his bold tactical decisions and controversial military strategies. His leadership of Unit 101, a special forces unit in the 1950s, and his role as a division commander during the 1973 Yom Kippur War established his reputation as one of Israel's most capable military minds.

The transition from military to political life marked a significant phase in Sharon's career. He served in various ministerial positions, including Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, before becoming Prime Minister. His political career was marked by his hardline stance on security issues and his complex relationship with the Palestinian territories and settlement policies.

Sharon's tenure as Prime Minister was defined by several pivotal decisions that reshaped Israeli politics. Most notably, his implementation of the 2005 Gaza disengagement plan, which involved the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli settlers and military forces from the Gaza Strip, represented a dramatic shift in his political position. This controversial move led to significant opposition within his own Likud party and ultimately prompted Sharon to form a new centrist party, Kadima, in 2005.

The legacy of Ariel Sharon remains deeply contested in Middle Eastern politics and international relations. Supporters credit him with prioritizing Israeli security and making difficult decisions for peace, while critics point to his role in controversial military operations and policies regarding Palestinian territories. His influence on Israeli military doctrine and political strategy continues to be studied and debated by historians and political analysts.

Sharon's stroke in January 2006, just months after founding Kadima and weeks before scheduled elections, abruptly ended his active political career. He remained in a persistent vegetative state for eight years until his death in January 2014 at the age of 85. His passing marked the end of an era in Israeli politics, closing the chapter on one of the most influential and controversial figures in the nation's history.