ariel sharon

English - English

Definition of ariel sharon in English English dictionary: {i} Arik Sharon (born 1928), former prime minister of Israel (served as a minister under different governments as Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Infrastructures), former general in the Israeli Defense Forces; born Feb. 26, 1928, Kefar Malal, Palestine Israeli soldier and politician. He received military training and did intelligence and reconnaissance work after Israel achieved independence (see Arab-Israeli wars). During the Suez Crisis (1956), and again during the Six-Day War (1967), a unit under his command captured the strategic Mitla Pass. In the Yom Kippur War (1973), he led an Israeli counterattack. Appointed minister of agriculture in charge of settlements (1977), he actively promoted Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As minister of defense (1981-83), he oversaw Israel's invasion of Lebanon (see Lebanese civil war). An Israeli court of inquiry held Sharon indirectly responsible for the Sabra and Shatila massacres, and he was forced to resign in 1983. He held several further cabinet positions throughout the 1980s and '90s and in 1999 became head of the Likud party. In 2001 he was elected prime minister

ariel sharon