Ariel Sharon has been a prominent figure in the Arab-Israeli conflict since the creation of Israel in 1948. He has played a major role in the defense and progress of Israel both in a military sense as well as in a political sense. Although he died in January of 2014 at age 85, he has left a legacy and plan for Israel that will continue to grow and bring Israel closer to peace.
Ariel Sharon was born in 1928 in a Jewish settlement in former Palestine (now Israel), which was controlled by the British. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia, and from a young age he was taught to fear the Arabs, as they were a threat in the Jewish settlement that he grew up in. This may have contributed to his motivation to defend and lead Israel throughout this “peace” process. When he was 14, he joined a Jewish militia …show more content…
In 1953, Sharon created Unit 101, an elite military group that launched counterterrorist operations against Palestinians, and ran the group throughout the 1950s. Although this group was created for a good cause, Sharon was called reckless with Palestinian civilians and with his troops, and after an attack that resulted in the deaths of innocent people, Unit 101 was discontinued. In 1956, there was an Arab-Israeli war over a conflict over the Suez Canal, and Ariel Sharon disregarded orders and led an attack on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, resulting in consequences of his leadership. However, by the time of the Six-Day War in 1967, he had risen to the rank of major general and led troops in seizing territories for future Jewish settlements. Another instance where Sharon defied orders and attacked was during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. However, this ended up being considered his greatest military success, although both of these disregards of orders resulted in increased tension with the Arabs. After this, he turned to focus more on politics until
Ariel Sharon was born in 1928 in a Jewish settlement in former Palestine (now Israel), which was controlled by the British. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia, and from a young age he was taught to fear the Arabs, as they were a threat in the Jewish settlement that he grew up in. This may have contributed to his motivation to defend and lead Israel throughout this “peace” process. When he was 14, he joined a Jewish militia …show more content…
In 1953, Sharon created Unit 101, an elite military group that launched counterterrorist operations against Palestinians, and ran the group throughout the 1950s. Although this group was created for a good cause, Sharon was called reckless with Palestinian civilians and with his troops, and after an attack that resulted in the deaths of innocent people, Unit 101 was discontinued. In 1956, there was an Arab-Israeli war over a conflict over the Suez Canal, and Ariel Sharon disregarded orders and led an attack on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, resulting in consequences of his leadership. However, by the time of the Six-Day War in 1967, he had risen to the rank of major general and led troops in seizing territories for future Jewish settlements. Another instance where Sharon defied orders and attacked was during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. However, this ended up being considered his greatest military success, although both of these disregards of orders resulted in increased tension with the Arabs. After this, he turned to focus more on politics until