Ariel Sharon Death Sparks Emotional Controversy

Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s death causes mixed emotions to surface. To countless Israelis Sharon was hailed a heroic warrior but to many Palestinians he was considered a murderer who was responsible for at least 800 deaths in Lebanon refugee camps.

Sharon would have turned 86 next month but he died on Saturday at age 85 after enduring an eight year comatose state. His family was with him during his final moments at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. Sharon’s two sons, Omri and Gilad, have been by his bedside since January 1 when his condition began to seriously decline.

Sharon is praised by Moshe Ya’alon, Israel’s current defense minister. Ya’alon said Sharon was an extraordinary military commander. Sharon is said to have turned the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into an army that not only confronts the enemy but quickly prevails. Ya’alon said Sharon displayed military leadership in battles against regular armies as well as the fight against terrorism.

Sharon was a part of every Israeli war going back as far as 1948. Many remember him as a fierce fighter that believed a strong army was necessary in order for Israel to survive.

Other leaders such as Khaled Abu Al Noor and Sarah … click HERE to continue reading