Ariel Sharon was a prominent and controversial figure in Israeli history, serving as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. Known for his military background and bold political decisions, Sharon played a central role in shaping Israel’s security policy, its settlements in the occupied territories, and its eventual disengagement from Gaza. His career spanned decades, marked by both acclaim and criticism, and he remains one of the most influential leaders in modern Israeli politics.
Born in 1928 in British Mandate Palestine, Ariel Sharon (originally Scheinerman) began his public life in the Israeli military. He served with distinction during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and later rose to the rank of Major General. He was known for his strategic brilliance and aggressive tactics, particularly during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when he led a decisive counterattack across the Suez Canal. His battlefield success earned him a national reputation as a military hero.
Sharon entered politics in the 1970s, becoming a founding member of the Likud party. He served in various ministerial roles, including Defense Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Housing Minister. As Defense Minister in 1982, he orchestrated the invasion of Lebanon, aimed at removing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from southern Lebanon. However, the war became deeply controversial, particularly after the Sabra and Shatila massacre, in which hundreds of Palestinian refugees were killed by Lebanese Christian militias. An Israeli commission found Sharon indirectly responsible, and he was forced to resign as Defense Minister.
Despite setbacks, Sharon remained a powerful figure on the Israeli right, closely associated with the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He long championed a hardline stance on Palestinian issues, emphasizing security and control of the land. However, his views began to shift in the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly as the Second Intifada erupted in 2000 following the breakdown of peace talks.
In 2001, Ariel Sharon was elected Prime Minister in a landslide victory, promising to restore security to Israel amidst rising violence. Initially seen as a hawk, Sharon surprised many by initiating a unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005. He argued that continuing to hold Gaza was not in Israel’s strategic interest and that separation from the Palestinians could enhance security. This move marked a significant shift in policy and caused a rift within the Likud party. In response, Sharon left Likud and founded a new centrist party, Kadima.
Tragically, in January 2006, just months before national elections, Sharon suffered a massive stroke and fell into a coma. He remained in a vegetative state until his death in 2014. His political legacy remains complex. To some, he was a visionary who prioritized Israel’s long-term interests over ideology. To others, his earlier military actions and settlement policies left a lasting and controversial imprint.
In sum, Ariel Sharon’s tenure as Prime Minister reflected the paradoxes of Israeli politics — balancing security, territory, and diplomacy in one of the world's most enduring and difficult conflicts.
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