Former Israeli PM, Ariel Sharon dies!

The former Prime Minister of Israel, Areal Sharon, had died at the age of eighty-five.  He had spent the last eight years of his life in a coma after suffering a stroke in 2006 but succumbed when several of his organs – including his kidneys – malfunctioned.

Sharon became Prime Minister in 2001 – a post he held until his stroke five years later.  During that time he orchestrated Israel’s unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in the face of strong opposition from within his own party. Rest In Peace Mr. Sharon.

Sharon first came to world note in 1948 when he was appointed commander of the Israeli army at its creation.  He had a busy military career and was heavily involved with the Suez Crisis, the Yom-Kippur Way and the 1982 Lebanon War.

After retiring from the military in 1977 Sharon entered politics with the Likud party and served in many different government positions until his ascent to the premiership in 2001