January 11, 2014 marks the tragic passing of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharon’s health began declining at the end of 2005 when he suffered a minor stroke, followed by another stroke less than a month later. After spending eight years in a coma-like state, Sharon passed away at the age of eighty-five at Tal HaShomer Hospital near Tel Aviv.
Sharon was born on a moshav in Kfar Malal in August of 1928 under the British Mandate of Palestine. He was introduced to the concept of homeland defense early in his teenage years, participating in night watches on the moshav and later enlisting in a youth battalion. At the climax of the 1948 War of Independence, Sharon entered the Israeli Defense Force. He firmly believed that Israel had been too hesitant in the face of Arab adversity, and was determined to impart some of his fearless persistence in his fellow soldiers. Sharon’s relentlessness was made especially clear during the 1967 Six Day War when he was appointed to defend Israel’s southern border against Egypt. He led the country to a massive victory: Israel gained the Sinai Peninsula and also defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan—three of its most prominent antagonists. Sharon often referred to this moment as one unparalleled in his entire life. His passion was protecting the State of Israel, and success in this endeavor gave him the most gratification.
Sharon was born on a moshav in Kfar Malal in August of 1928 under the British Mandate of Palestine. He was introduced to the concept of homeland defense early in his teenage years, participating in night watches on the moshav and later enlisting in a youth battalion. At the climax of the 1948 War of Independence, Sharon entered the Israeli Defense Force. He firmly believed that Israel had been too hesitant in the face of Arab adversity, and was determined to impart some of his fearless persistence in his fellow soldiers. Sharon’s relentlessness was made especially clear during the 1967 Six Day War when he was appointed to defend Israel’s southern border against Egypt. He led the country to a massive victory: Israel gained the Sinai Peninsula and also defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan—three of its most prominent antagonists. Sharon often referred to this moment as one unparalleled in his entire life. His passion was protecting the State of Israel, and success in this endeavor gave him the most gratification.Even as a young soldier, Sharon was known for defying orders from his superiors and acting on his own accord—a trait that was visible in other situations throughout his life. While he was often criticized for this behavior, his defiance and independence also worked in Israel’s favor. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Sharon accomplished his greatest military success. Acting as head of the IDF’s Armored Reserve Division, he courageously sent his troops across the Suez Canal into Egypt. While the maneuver disobeyed repeated orders from IDF officials, it was considered the turning point in the war. By crossing the Suez Canal, Sharon’s men completely thwarted the Egyptian Second Army and surrounded its Third Army, essentially winning the war for Israel on the ground.
After 25 years in the IDF, Sharon joined the Likud party and began his political career. He always maintained a clear stance that his priority was the preservation and further development of a Jewish homeland in Israel. His years of military experiences certainly affected his politics—as a political leader, Sharon aggressively seized opportunities that he believed would foster peace between Israelis and Palestinians. These perceived opportunities often led to bold decisions that inevitably affected his popularity both internationally and in Israel. In 1982 when Sharon announced a 48-hour invasion on Lebanon to root out the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), he did so with the intention of negotiating a peace treaty between Lebanon and Israel. The invasion successfully sparked an alliance between the IDF and the Palestinian Phalangists. But the later decision to allow the Phalange into Beirut ultimately led to the Sabra and Shalita massacre, and most of the world blamed Sharon alone. He was subsequently removed as Defense Minister but remained on the cabinet without portfolio.
Despite his ejection and dive in popularity, Sharon returned to politics in 2001 as Prime Minister of Israel in an unbelievable victory over Ehud Barak. He consistently drew from his experiences as a soldier to guide political decisions, and firmly believed in Israel’s ability as a unified country to succeed against its enemies as it had done in the past.
When Sharon was elected, tensions were particularly high between Israelis and Palestinians. In 2003, he grew impatient with the Palestinians for their lack of cooperation in negotiating agreements with Israel, and announced his ultimate plan to advance his desire for peace: the “Disengagement Plan.” This would remove settlers from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in an effort to reduce Israeli/Palestinian animosity by significantly decreasing the number of Israelis in the area. In 2005, the IDF evacuated thousands of Israeli settlers, and the army was officially out of Gaza for the first time in 38 years. While many Israelis in fact agreed that the plan had been successful, Sharon’s Likud party condemned his decision. In late 2005 he abandoned Likud to start a new party called Kadima, which he insisted would eliminate all terrorist obstacles, maximize Israeli security, and ensure a Jewish state. Just one month after establishing Kadima, Sharon suffered his first stroke, and his health continued declining until his death.
Ariel Sharon was a man known for always making his opinions clear. In his autobiography, Warrior, Sharon asked a burning question: “Can the Jewish people of Israel find within us the will to survive as a nation?” He believed that this will existed as long as Jews remained strongly unified. He exemplified the fight it takes to preserve Israel as a Jewish homeland. World leaders have recognized Sharon’s tenacity and bravery throughout his life, and will continue to admire his courage for years to come.