Ariel Sharon

A deeply divisive figure, Ariel Sharon lived a long and storied life. Ariel Sharon was a Statesmen, General, Commander and the 11th Prime Minister of Isreal. His military career lasted almost as long as his life. In most of the wars fought by Israel, Sharon played a key role. He was a Commander in the 1948 War of Independence and the 1956 Suez Crisis and as Minister of Defense he helped orchastrate the 1982 Lebanon War. Later in his life Ariel Sharon joined the Lukid party and held many positions including Minister of Defense. In 2000 he led the party and served as Prime Minister until he fell into a coma in 2006. He would remain in a vegetative state until his death on January 11th, 2014. He is survived by his two sons.

Sharon was born in Kfar Malal to parents Shmuel Scheinerman and Dvora Scheinerman: Belarusian Jews who left for Israel fleeing Bolshevik forces and the pogroms during the Russian Civil War. His parents gave birth to a daughter in 1926 and Sharon two years later. Sharon at a young age became politically active, joining the youth Zionist Movement. As a teenager Sharon joined several military battalions and paramilitary forces.

Sharon was widowed twice. His first wife Margalit gave birth to his first son Gur. She died in a tragic car accident in 1962. 5 years later this son Gur was accidentally shot and died. He eventually married Margalit's sister Lily who gave them two sons, Omri and Gilad. Lily died in 2000 from cancer.

Sharon's military career was impressive in scale and scope. He was part of a small military unit leading up to the 1948 War of Independence which gained a reputation for quick and deadly forays into enemy encampments. Sharon was wounded in battle and after his recovery was promoted to Company Commander. He left in 1950 to pursue his studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This however would not last long as he was called upon a year and a half later by the Prime Minister to return to battle and command the infamous Unit 101. During the 1956 Suez Crisis, Sharon led a Paratroopers Brigade and was heavily criticized for actions resulting in heavy Israeli losses. He would subsequently fight and lead troops in two more wars before being relieved of duty.

Sharon's poltical career was no less interesting. He was instrumental in the formation of the Likud party in 1973. He rose up the ranks of the Likud party and played key roles in several Israeli governments. His prominence and stature eventually led him to become Minister of Defense in 1981. One of his biggest political crises came during the 1982 Lebanon War. The Sabra and Shatlia Massacre resulted in the deaths of between 750 and 3,500 Palestinians. The Kahan Report placed the blame indirectly on Ariel Sharon and Israeli forces and Sharon was eventually forced to resign from his position. Sharon stayed in politics however and remained as a minister without portfolio for years. He became Foreign Minister right before becoming Prime Minister. He would be elected Prime Minister in 2001. Sharon was instrumental in the unilateral disengagement plan that was never truely successful. He eventually left the Likud party to form a new party but before he could run for re-election, fell into a coma.

Famously overweight, Sharon was in bad health during his time as Prime Minister. in December 2005 he suffered a minor stoke. During his time in hospital, doctors discovered a heart defect requiring surgery and ordered bed rest pending surgery. Instead, Sharon returned to work and suffered a stroke on January 4th, the day before surgery. Many pundits believe that had Sharon stayed in good health, he may have secured peace with the Palestinians. He stayed in a coma for 8 years before passing away on January 11th, 2014.