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 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

1950s 1953 Sharon led the "101" commando unit 1956 Commander of a Paratroop Corps in the Sinai Campaign 1957 Attended Military College in England 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

1975 Sharon becomes advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin

: 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

: 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

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

: 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 : 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

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 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