biography
pronunciation:
[sharon]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1928– )
|
| biography:
| Prime minister of Israel (2001– ) and soldier, born in Kfar Maalal, a communal farm in W Palestine, the son of Russian immigrant parents. In 1942 he joined the Jewish military underground organization, the Haganah, fought in the Arab–Israeli War of 1948–9, and went on to a series of command positions, notably in the Yom Kippur War (Oct 1973). His political career began when he won a seat in the Knesset (1973–4), and served for right-wing parties in various government posts for the next two decades. He was minister of defence (1981–3) during the war in Lebanon, but was forced to resign when he was found indirectly responsible for the massacre of civilians at refugee camps in Lebanon. Re-elected to the Knesset (1999), he served as chairman of the Likud following the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu. In February 2001, after months of failed peace negotiations by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, an Israeli public voted Sharon their next leader. He won a second term in 2003. |
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