The Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon passed away on January 11, 2014

Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Passed Away

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    Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ​passed away on January 11, 2014, never regaining consciousness after suffering a brain hemorrhage in January 2006.
     
    Foreign Minister of Israel 1998-1999
    Prime Minister of Israel 2001-2006​​

    President Shimon Peres:

    "My dear friend, Arik Sharon, lost his final battle today. Arik was a brave soldier and a daring leader who loved his nation and his nation loved him. He was one of Israel's great protectors and most important architects, who knew no fear and certainly never feared vision. He knew how to take difficult decisions and implement them. We all lo​ved him and he will be greatly missed. I send my condolences to the Sharon family. May he rest in peace."​


    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

    "The State of Israel bows its head on the passing of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Ariel Sharon played a central role in the struggle for the security of the State of Israel over all its years. He was, first and foremost, a courageous fighter and an outstanding general, and was among the IDF's greatest commanders. From his youth, he served the people of Israel on the battlefield. He did so as a soldier in the War of Independence, a commander in the [1956] Sinai campaign and the Six Day War, and up to his decisive role in the battle over the Suez Canal that led to the turning point in the Yom Kippur War. He established Unit 101 and took the initiative in the war against terrorism, which became a central pillar of the State of Israel. Upon leaving the military, he continued to work on behalf of the people of Israel both in his many government roles and as the 11th prime minister of the State of Israel. His memory will be enshrined forever in the heart of the nation."