Ariel Sharon, former Israeli Prime Minister, dead at 85
January 11, 2014 -- Updated 1417 GMT (2217
HKT)
Ariel Sharon, whose half century as a military and political leader in Israel was marked with victories and controversies, died Saturday after eight years in a coma, Israeli Army Radio reported. Sharon was 85.
Sharon died at Sheba Medical
Center in the Tel Aviv suburb of Tel Hashomer.
The Israeli statesman was a
national war hero to many Israelis for his leadership, both in uniform or as a
civilian, during every Israeli war.
Many in the Arab world called
Sharon "the Butcher of Beirut" after he oversaw Israel's 1982 invasion of
Lebanon while serving as defense minister.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a decorated
warrior who also took steps for peace, died Saturday, January 11, after eight
years in a coma. Sharon was 85. The former general suffered a stroke in January
2006 and has been hospitalized since. Here, he meets with Israeli journalists in
Tel Aviv a month before the stroke.
Sharon, born on a farm outside of Tel Aviv, began working
with the Haganah, a militant group advocating for Israel's independence, after
graduating from high school in 1945. He's shown as a young commander in the
Alexandroni Brigade of the fledgling Israeli army in 1948.
Sharon, born on a farm outside of Tel Aviv, began working
with the Haganah, a militant group advocating for Israel's independence, after
graduating from high school in 1945. He's shown as a young commander in the
Alexandroni Brigade of the fledgling Israeli army in 1948.
Ariel Sharon addresses troops of Unit 101 before their
attack on Khan Yunis in what was formerly known as the Gaza Strip on August 30,
1955. Sharon had established the elite commando group two years before. The
officer-turned-politician had a career marked with victories and
controversies.
Ariel Sharon addresses troops of Unit 101 before their
attack on Khan Yunis in what was formerly known as the Gaza Strip on August 30,
1955. Sharon had established the elite commando group two years before. The
officer-turned-politician had a career marked with victories and
controversies.
By February 1966, when this photo was taken, Sharon was an
Israeli military hero. Sharon rose through the ranks of the Israel Defense
Forces and was a major general during 1967's Six-Day War, which ended with
Israel notably, if controversially, expanding its territory.
By February 1966, when this photo was taken, Sharon was an
Israeli military hero. Sharon rose through the ranks of the Israel Defense
Forces and was a major general during 1967's Six-Day War, which ended with
Israel notably, if controversially, expanding its territory.
In June 1967, Sharon led his tank battalion to a crushing
victory over the Egyptians in the Sinai during the Six-Day War. Here, he
witnesses an aerial attack.
In June 1967, Sharon led his tank battalion to a crushing
victory over the Egyptians in the Sinai during the Six-Day War. Here, he
witnesses an aerial attack.
Former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion is briefed in 1971
by Sharon in a trench near the Suez Canal in the Sinai.
Former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion is briefed in 1971
by Sharon in a trench near the Suez Canal in the Sinai.
Defense Minister Moshe Dayan (left) visits with a bandaged
Sharon during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973 on the western bank of the Suez
Canal in Egypt. Sharon said his greatest military success came during that war.
He surrounded Egypt's Third Army and, defying orders, led 200 tanks and 5,000
men over the Suez Canal, a turning point.
Defense Minister Moshe Dayan (left) visits with a bandaged
Sharon during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973 on the western bank of the Suez
Canal in Egypt. Sharon said his greatest military success came during that war.
He surrounded Egypt's Third Army and, defying orders, led 200 tanks and 5,000
men over the Suez Canal, a turning point.
Sharon transitioned into government, including stints as
military adviser, agriculture minister and defense minister. Here, he and Prime
Minister Menachem Begin attend a Knesset meeting in June 1977.
Sharon transitioned into government, including stints as
military adviser, agriculture minister and defense minister. Here, he and Prime
Minister Menachem Begin attend a Knesset meeting in June 1977.
Sharon with his son, Gilad, and wife, Lily, during a stop
in Egypt in 1979.
Sharon with his son, Gilad, and wife, Lily, during a stop
in Egypt in 1979.
An official Israeli inquiry found Sharon indirectly
responsible for the September 1982 killings of as many as 2,000 Palestinians at
the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps outside of Beirut, Lebanon. The report --
which led to Sharon's prompt resignation -- determined the then-defense minister
did nothing to stop Christian militiamen allied with Israel from entering the
camps. Here, demonstrators are seen near Prime Minister Menachem Begin's home in
Jerusalem, calling for the resignations of Begin and Sharon.
An official Israeli inquiry found Sharon indirectly
responsible for the September 1982 killings of as many as 2,000 Palestinians at
the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps outside of Beirut, Lebanon. The report --
which led to Sharon's prompt resignation -- determined the then-defense minister
did nothing to stop Christian militiamen allied with Israel from entering the
camps. Here, demonstrators are seen near Prime Minister Menachem Begin's home in
Jerusalem, calling for the resignations of Begin and Sharon.
Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, in combat helmet
and flak jacket, leads his troops toward a meeting with Christian forces in East
Beirut in June 1982. Israel had invaded southern Lebanon in retaliation for an
assassination attempt linked to the group Abu Nidal.
Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, in combat helmet
and flak jacket, leads his troops toward a meeting with Christian forces in East
Beirut in June 1982. Israel had invaded southern Lebanon in retaliation for an
assassination attempt linked to the group Abu Nidal.
Sharon, no longer in the Israeli military, stands at the
future site of a settlement in Gaza in February 1990.
Sharon, no longer in the Israeli military, stands at the
future site of a settlement in Gaza in February 1990.
Serving as foreign minister, Ariel Sharon talks with U.S.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during the October 1998 Middle East peace
summit in Maryland.
Serving as foreign minister, Ariel Sharon talks with U.S.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during the October 1998 Middle East peace
summit in Maryland.
Sharon made a political comeback in the 1990s, eventually
becoming leader of the Likud party in 2000. In February 2001, the prime
minister-elect touches the ancient stones of the Western Wall as he prays at
Judaism's holiest site in Jerusalem. He took office the following month.
Sharon made a political comeback in the 1990s, eventually
becoming leader of the Likud party in 2000. In February 2001, the prime
minister-elect touches the ancient stones of the Western Wall as he prays at
Judaism's holiest site in Jerusalem. He took office the following month.
The prime minister, at a March 2002 media briefing in
Jerusalem, announces a widespread army operation against what he called
Palestinian terrorism. He spoke out against Yasser Arafat, then a key
Palestinian leader. Sharon said that Israel considered Arafat an enemy and that
he would be completely isolated "at this stage.''
The prime minister, at a March 2002 media briefing in
Jerusalem, announces a widespread army operation against what he called
Palestinian terrorism. He spoke out against Yasser Arafat, then a key
Palestinian leader. Sharon said that Israel considered Arafat an enemy and that
he would be completely isolated "at this stage.''
In June 2003, Sharon, right, met with Palestinian
Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, left, and U.S. President George W. Bush to
discuss a Middle East "road map" for peace. After the meeting, Sharon expressed
his "strong support" for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
In June 2003, Sharon, right, met with Palestinian
Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, left, and U.S. President George W. Bush to
discuss a Middle East "road map" for peace. After the meeting, Sharon expressed
his "strong support" for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Sharon sits alone as he waits for other Knesset members to
arrive for a vote on March 28, 2005. Sharon pushed for Israel's historic 2005
withdrawal from 25 settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, which was turned over
to Palestinian rule for the first time in 38 years.
Sharon sits alone as he waits for other Knesset members to
arrive for a vote on March 28, 2005. Sharon pushed for Israel's historic 2005
withdrawal from 25 settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, which was turned over
to Palestinian rule for the first time in 38 years.
Immediately after he fell ill in early 2006, Sharon's
prime minister power was transferred to Vice Premier Ehud Olmert. Sharon is
shown only weeks before his devastating stroke.
Immediately after he fell ill in early 2006, Sharon's
prime minister power was transferred to Vice Premier Ehud Olmert. Sharon is
shown only weeks before his devastating stroke.
The politician pays a visit to his Negev Desert farm in
early 2006.
The politician pays a visit to his Negev Desert farm in
early 2006.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looks toward the empty
chair of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a note is passed to him during a special
meeting of the cabinet in April 2006. Israel's Cabinet declared Sharon
permanently incapacitated, a decision marking the official end of his five-year
tenure. Sharon suffered his stroke in January 2006 and was in a coma.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looks toward the empty
chair of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a note is passed to him during a special
meeting of the cabinet in April 2006. Israel's Cabinet declared Sharon
permanently incapacitated, a decision marking the official end of his five-year
tenure. Sharon suffered his stroke in January 2006 and was in a coma.
Ariel Sharon: Israeli soldier, statesman
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Ariel Sharon:
Israeli soldier, statesman 
Ariel Sharon legacy linked to
military
Sharon and Arafat: Enemies to
the end
He was a major figure in many
defining events in the Middle East for decades, including his decision to turn
over Gaza and parts of the West Bank to Palestinian control.
Throughout, he was called a "The
Bulldozer," a fearless leader who got things done.
The reaction in his own
right-wing Likud Party to his order to the military to drag some Israeli
settlers from their homes in Gaza led Sharon in November 2005 to form the
political party Kadima, Hebrew for "Forward."
He was in his fifth year as
prime minister when he suffered a massive stroke in January 2006, which left him
comatose.
Ehud Olmert, who became interim
prime minister after Sharon's stroke, assumed the role of prime minister after
leading the Kadima Party to an election victory in March 2006.
Sharon's career was closely tied
to Israel's relationship with Lebanon.
During the Lebanon war in 1982,
Sharon, a former army general then serving as Israeli defense minister, was held
indirectly responsible by an Israeli inquiry in 1983 for the massacre of
hundreds of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. He was forced
to resign.
Sharon, who lived on a ranch in
the Negev Desert, became prime minister on March 7, 2001.
Ariel Sharon: The
Politician
Ariel Sharon: The
Warrior
He was the man who encouraged
Israelis to establish settlements on occupied Palestinian land, but he also was
the leader who pushed for Israel's historic 2005 withdrawal from 25 settlements
in the West Bank and Gaza, which was turned over to Palestinian rule for the
first time in 38 years.
Sharon formed the centrist
Kadima in an effort to build political support for his controversial plan to
turn over Gaza and parts of the West Bank to Palestinian control.
In grappling with the
decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, Sharon said in 2001, "I
can talk and look in the eyes of the citizens of Israel and convince them to
make painful compromises."
As waves of suicide bombings by
militants rocked Israel, Sharon sent tanks and troops into Palestinian towns,
ordering assassinations of Palestinian militant leaders.
Sharon ordered construction of
the barrier through the West Bank and confined then-Palestinian Leader Yasser
Arafat, whom he called "a terrorist," to his compound in Ramallah, accusing him
of encouraging attacks on Israel.
This veteran of all of Israel's
wars was a national hero to many.
In 1953, after a wave of
terrorist attacks from Jordan, Sharon the military leader led the infamous Unit
101 on a raid into the border town of Kibya, blowing up 45 houses and killing 69
Arab villagers. Sharon said he thought the houses were empty.
In June 1967, as a general,
Sharon led his tank battalion to a crushing victory over the Egyptians in the
Sinai during the Six Day War.
But what he considered his
greatest military success came in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. He surrounded
Egypt's Third Army and, defying orders, led 200 tanks and 5,000 men over the
Suez Canal, a turning point in the war.
As defense minister, Sharon was
the architect of Israel's invasion of Lebanon, an occupation meant to stop the
Palestine Liberation Organization from using Lebanon as a base for attacks on
Israel. The attack was disastrous.
After the Sabra and Shatila
massacre, he allowed Israeli families to settle in occupied Palestinian land,
the same land Palestinians claimed as a future state.
As a result of the inquiry,
however, Sharon was forced to stand down and was banned from ever being defense
minister again.
"He felt betrayed by his
government," said his adviser, Ranaan Gissin.
Sharon made a political comeback
in the 1990s, eventually becoming leader of his party in 2000.
That year, he faced more trouble
when he visited the holiest site for Jews, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem --
known to Muslims as Haram al Sharif, "The Noble Sanctuary." The stop sparked
violent protests. The incident prompted the second Intifada -- the Palestinian
uprising against Israeli rule -- that began in September of that year.
Throughout his career, both in
the military and in politics, Sharon was the man Israelis turned to when they
thought they had no other choice. Either leading from the front or calling the
shots as an elected leader, he was always the soldier. Even in his later years
out of uniform, his military demeanor was just below the surface. He never
delivered on his promise of peace and security.
Sharon was born on a farm
outside Tel Aviv. The son of Russian immigrants, he always remembered a lesson
from his father as he ascended to the highest office in Israel.
"When my father saw that I was
tired, he would stop for a minute and say, 'Look how much we have done
already,'" he once explained.
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