Ariel Sharon
A 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
As a platoon
commander, he
was wounded in
the battle for
Latrun
When the State
of Israel was
established he
joined the
Haganah
In the War of
Independence
Sharon was
involved in the
Battle for
Jerusalem
1950s
1953 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
1965 With
Yitzhak Rabin as
Chief of Staff,
Sharon's military
career advanced
1967 Sharon was appointed
Brigadier General
June He was an active division
commander in the 6 Day War
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
1975
Sharon becomes advisor to
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
1976-7
1976: 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
1982: Sharon serves as Defense
Minister during the Lebanon War
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
1984
Sharon 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 Jews
from 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
Sharon speaking
about Ilan Ramon
"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."
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