Ariel Sharon

**Ariel Sharon** (February 26, 1928 – January 11, 2014) was an Israeli politician of Likud and later Kadima. Sharon was Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 to 2006.

## Early life

Sharon was born on February 27, 1928 in Kfar Malal, British-Palestine. Sharon was in the Israel Army for many years. He fought in numerous battles, and in 1974 he left the army as General. After leaving the army he decided to go to politics.

## Politics

In 1977, he became Minister of Agriculture. In 1981 he became the Minister of Defence. In 1983, he was forced to quit the government as Minister of Defence after he was found guilty for failing to prevent the Sabra and Shatilla massacre in Lebanon where thousands of Palestinian civilians were killed by the right-wing Lebanese Phalange political party.

In 2001, he was elected for Prime Minister after the war between Israel and Palestine started. In 2004, he surprised many people when he said that Israel will get out of the Gaza Strip, which is the place where many Palestinian people live.

## Health

In December 2005, Sharon was taken into hospital. On January 4, 2006, Sharon was again taken to the hospital. He had a big stroke (bleeding in the brain).

Rumours spread immediately of his death, though these were denied by his physicians. It was soon reported and later confirmed that Sharon was in a coma. Ehud Olmert, another member of Sharon's newly formed _Kadima_ party, was acting Prime Minister until elections were held in Israel, after which Olmert became Prime Minister of Israel.

### Death

Sharon died on 11 January 2014. He died from kidney failure and stroke complications at the hospital in Ramat Gan. He had been in a coma at the time. He was aged 85.

His state funeral was held on 13 January. He was buried in line with Jewish burial customs. It was held as soon after death as possible. The day before the funeral, Sharon's body and coffin were placed in the Knesset building for people to see. His funeral began with an official ceremony held in the Knesset chamber. Politicians from Israel and other countries attended. His funeral was then held at his family's farm in the Negev desert. Sharon was buried there beside his wife, Lily.

Leaders attended his funeral service included U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Czech Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

## Other websites

- Ariel Sharon's Biography – Detailed account of his military and political career
- Ariel Sharon
- Ariel Sharon: Return to the Temple Mount
- Ariel Sharon: an Israeli Caligula
- The Sabra and Shatila Massacres (16–18 September 1982)
- Timeline of key events in Sharon's life
- Ariel Sharon Profile, ynet news lexicon
- Biography of Ariel Sharon at cnn.com
- Prominent People – Sharon, Ariel "Arik"
- Phonecall  – An authentic recording of Ariel Sharon talking to a soldier positioned at one of the Suez Channel bunkers at the beginning of the Yom Kippur War.

## Infobox (prime minister)

- **name**: Ariel Sharon
- **birthname**: Ariel Scheinermann
- **image**: Ariel Sharon, by Jim Wallace (Smithsonian Institution).jpg
- **caption**: Sharon speaking as Israeli Foreign Minister in the United States, 1998
- **order**: List of Prime Ministers of Israel, 11th
- **office**: Prime Minister of Israel
- **term start**: 7 March 2001
- **term end**: 14 April 2006*
- **president**: Moshe Katsav
- **deputy**: Ehud Olmert
- **predecessor**: Ehud Barak
- **successor**: Ehud Olmert
- **birth place**: Kfar Malal, Mandatory Palestine, British Mandate of Palestine
- **death place**: Ramat Gan, Israel
- **spouse**: Margalit Sharon
(m. 1953–1962; her death)
Lily Sharon
(m. 1963–2000; her death)
- **children**: Gur (dead), Omri Sharon, Omri, Gilad
- **profession**: Officer (armed forces), Military officer
- **alma mater**: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Tel Aviv University