Ariel Sharon Biography Quotes 8 Report mistakes

Early life and formative years
Ariel Sharon was born Ariel Scheinermann on February 26, 1928, in Kfar Malal, then part of Mandatory Palestine. Raised in a farming community by parents who prized self-reliance and security, he grew up in an environment shaped by both pioneer hardship and political turbulence. As a teenager he joined the Haganah, and by the time of Israel's 1948 war he was already a seasoned fighter. He was wounded in the fierce fighting near Latrun, an episode that embedded in him a belief in bold initiative, meticulous preparation, and a leader's duty to remain close to the front.

Rise through the military
Sharon's career accelerated in the early 1950s when he helped form and then commanded Unit 101, a small commando force tasked with cross-border operations. The unit's raids, including the one at Qibya in 1953, made him both famous and controversial, crystallizing a reputation for aggressive action and blunt candor. After Unit 101 was merged into the Paratroopers Brigade, he rose through the ranks, becoming a central figure in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

In the 1956 Suez Crisis he led paratroopers in the Sinai, clashing at times with superiors over the pace and scope of operations. He developed close and complicated relationships with influential figures such as David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Dayan, who recognized his battlefield acumen even as they fretted over his independent streak. By 1967, during the Six-Day War, he commanded an armored division that broke through Egyptian defenses in Sinai. During the War of Attrition that followed, he supported deep raids and a doctrine of pressure to deter adversaries.

In the 1973 Yom Kippur War Sharon commanded an armored division on the Egyptian front. He pushed for a high-risk crossing of the Suez Canal and exploited a gap between Egyptian armies. The battles around the Chinese Farm and the canal bridges became part of his legend, and images of him with a bandage on his head entered Israeli lore. His success helped encircle the Egyptian Third Army and shifted the war's momentum, cementing his status as one of Israel's most audacious commanders. He retired from active service after reaching the rank of major general.

From general to politician
Sharon transitioned into politics in the 1970s and became a key organizer and strategist on the right. He joined Likud and, under Prime Minister Menachem Begin, served as Minister of Agriculture, where he strongly backed settlement building. His role put him at odds with some Israelis and drew praise from others who shared his view that security and settlement were intertwined. The relationships he built during this time, including with Yitzhak Shamir and other senior figures, made him an indispensable political operator, even as his forceful style provoked critics across the aisle, including leaders such as Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.

Defense Minister and the Lebanon War
Appointed Defense Minister in 1981, Sharon confronted escalating violence on Israel's northern border. In 1982, he oversaw the invasion of Lebanon aimed at pushing the PLO away from Israel's frontier and reshaping the regional balance. The intervention, which entangled Israel in Beirut's complex civil war and its alliance with Lebanese militias, culminated in the Sabra and Shatila massacre perpetrated by Christian militiamen. The Kahan Commission found Sharon indirectly responsible for failing to anticipate and prevent the killings and recommended his removal as Defense Minister. He resigned the post but remained a powerful, polarizing presence in politics.

Return to cabinet and the road to national leadership
Despite the stigma of Lebanon, Sharon rebuilt his influence. As Housing and Construction Minister under Yitzhak Shamir, he pushed a vast program of settlement construction. He later served in senior posts under Benjamin Netanyahu, including as Foreign Minister, sharpening his diplomatic credentials and gaining experience in negotiations with Palestinian leaders such as Yasser Arafat and, later, Mahmoud Abbas. Known universally by his nickname Arik, he cultivated an image as a man of decisive action who was nevertheless capable of pragmatism when circumstances demanded.

Prime Minister during the Second Intifada
Sharon became Likud leader in 1999 and, amid the violence of the Second Intifada, defeated Ehud Barak in a 2001 election held against a backdrop of suicide bombings and failed diplomatic efforts. He formed a broad unity government that included figures from across Israel's political spectrum; Shimon Peres served as Foreign Minister, symbolizing a pragmatic coalition in a time of crisis. Sharon ordered robust military operations, including Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, to curb militant networks in the West Bank, and spearheaded the construction of a security barrier that he argued was necessary to protect Israeli civilians. His relationship with U.S. President George W. Bush became central to his strategy; he secured a significant American letter in 2004 acknowledging demographic realities that he believed would shape any future agreement.

Disengagement and political transformation
Sharon startled allies and opponents alike by championing unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank. In 2005, Israeli forces evacuated all settlements from Gaza and dismantled the military presence there. The move generated intense opposition among many in his own camp, including longtime supporters from the settlement movement, and he clashed with colleagues in Likud such as Benjamin Netanyahu, who resigned from the cabinet in protest. Facing persistent rebellions within Likud, Sharon broke away and established Kadima, drawing centrist figures including Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni. The new party sought to reposition Israeli politics around a pragmatic security agenda rather than traditional left-right divides.

Illness, succession, and death
In late 2005 Sharon suffered a minor stroke. On January 4, 2006, he was struck by a massive stroke that left him incapacitated. Ehud Olmert became acting prime minister and later assumed the office. Sharon never recovered consciousness and spent years in a prolonged coma, cared for in medical facilities and at his Negev ranch. He died on January 11, 2014. His funeral drew international representatives and Israeli leaders across the spectrum, a reflection of his central place in the country's history.

Personal life
Sharon married twice. His first wife, Margalit, died tragically in a car accident. He later married Lily, with whom he built a home and a ranch life that offered respite from public battles. The couple had two sons, Omri and Gilad. A third son, Gur, died in a firearm accident as a child, a loss that left a lasting mark on the family. Sharon's bonds with his sons were a constant in his life, even as Omri's legal troubles and political activity drew scrutiny while Sharon was prime minister. At his ranch, he was known for an earthy warmth, love of the land, and a straightforward manner that contrasted with the complexity of the issues he confronted.

Legacy
Ariel Sharon's legacy is one of paradox and transformation. He was the audacious general of Unit 101 and the canal crossing, the Defense Minister censured after Lebanon, the Agriculture Minister who championed settlement expansion, and the Prime Minister who ordered the evacuation of settlements in Gaza. He cultivated alliances with leaders as disparate as Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, Shimon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, and Ehud Olmert, and he sparred with Palestinian leaders from Yasser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas. To supporters, he was a guardian who did what was necessary to defend Israel and adjust strategy to changing realities. To critics, he embodied the costs of hard power and unilateralism. Few disputed his impact: Ariel Sharon reshaped Israel's military doctrine, its political map, and its borders, leaving a complicated imprint that continues to frame debates about security, diplomacy, and national identity.

Our collection contains 8 quotes who is written by Ariel, under the main topics: Truth - Justice - Leadership - Dark Humor - Peace.