Ariel SharonA Biography

1928

Ariel Sharon was born Ariel Scheinermann

in Kfar Malal, Palestine

His parents, Shmuel and Dvora (formerly Vera), immigrated to the British Palestine Mandate

from Russia

1948 At 14, Sharon

joined the Gadna, a paramilitary youth battalion

When the State of Israel was established he joined the Haganah

As a platoon commander, he was wounded in the battle for Latrun

In the War of Independence Sharon was involved in the Battle for Jerusalem

1950s1953 Sharon led the "101" commando unit

1956 Commander

of a Paratroop Corps in the

Sinai Campaign

1957 Attended Military College in England

1958-62 Military Commander; and attended Law School in Tel Aviv

1960s

1967 Sharon was appointed Brigadier General

June He was an active division commander in the 6 Day War

1965 With Yitzhak Rabin as Chief of Staff, Sharon's military career advanced

1973 Sharon was recalled to active military service in

the Yom Kippur War

He led the crossing of the Suez Canal which brought about victory in the war and eventual peace with Egypt

1974

Sharon resigns as Member of Parliament to take a senior emergency position in the military reserves

1975Sharon becomes advisor to

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin

1976-71976: Sharon forms Shlomzion party

1977: Shlomzion wins 2 seats in the Knesset and by joining the Herut fraction of Likud, Sharon becomes Minister of Agriculture

1981 Sharon was instrumental in renewing diplomatic relations with the African nations

In November 1981, he brought about the first

strategic cooperation agreement with the U.S

Sharon also helped bring thousands of Jews to Israel from Ethiopia

1982-3

1983: Sharon resigns as Defense Minister after a government commission found him indirectly responsible for massacre of Palestinians at Sabra and Shatilla by Lebanese Christians

1982: Sharon serves as Defense Minister during the Lebanon War

1984Sharon loses Likud leadership election

Sharon is appointed Minister of Trade and Industry in the Peres government

Sharon serves as a Minister without Portfolio, and later the Minister of Industry and Trade until 1990

1990

1990: Sharon resigns as Minister of Trade and Industry

May: Sharon becomes Minister of Housing in the government of Yitzhak Shamir, accelerating the building of settlements

1990’s 1990-1992: Sharon serves as Minister of Construction and

Housing and Chairman of Committee on Immigration

He initiated program to absorb millions of Jewsfrom the Soviet Union

In 1996 as Minister of National Infrastructure fostered relations with Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinians

1998 Sharon is appointed Foreign Minister by

Benjamin Netanyahu, heading negotiations with the Palestinian Authority

Sharon meets with many world leaders to

advance the peace process

1999

Benjamin Netanyahu resigns as leader of the Likud party, and Ariel Sharon becomes its new leader

2001

Sharon ignites heavy Palestinian protests after walking on the Temple

Mount in Jerusalem

2001 - 2006

Ariel Sharon serves as the Prime Minister of the State of Israel

2003

"These times strengthen the feeling of common destiny, values and common vision of the

American and Israeli nations. Ilan Ramon and his friends on the space shuttle were victims of

science, the progress and aspiration of all of us to a better life on Earth. The Israeli nation is mourning in light of this heavy tragedy."

Sharon speaking about Ilan Ramon

2005

Ariel Sharon surprises many with his courageous decision to withdraw all Israel

settlers from the Gaza Strip

2005

Ariel Sharon Resigns from the Likud and establishes the Kadima party

December: Has minor stroke and returns to work within a matter of days

Ariel Sharon was twice widowed.

His first wife, Margalit, was killed in an automobile accident.

His second wife, Lily, died of lung cancer in 2000.

He has two surviving sons, Omri and Gilad. A third son, Gur, died in 1967.

January 2001 “We all want peace, true peace. Peace with

security. Peace that will protect us…we must pursue peace through UNITY

This unity will allow us to advance with courage towards peace with our neighbors…

We are a Nation, a State, and a People who desire PEACE: THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT.”

Ariel “Arik” Sharon

1928 - 2014