JERUSALEM - Ariel Sharon, who died on Saturday aged 85, was one of Israel's most skilled but controversial political and military leaders, whose ruthless methods earned him the moniker "The Bulldozer".
The veteran soldier fought in all of Israel's major wars before embarking on a turbulent political career in 1973 which ended dramatically in January 2006 when he suffered a massive stroke and subsequent coma, from which he never recovered.
Long considered a pariah for his personal but "indirect" responsibility for the 1982 massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by Israel's Lebanese Phalangist allies in Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, Sharon was elected premier in 2001.
One of the last members of the generation which founded the Jewish state 1948, he leaves a complex legacy which saw him push through a policy of separation from the Palestinians, orchestrate Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and begin building the sprawling West Bank barrier in 2002.
Known throughout his military career for his boldness, Sharon also had a stubborn sense of independence. As head of the elite commando unit 101, he engaged in punitive reprisal raids against Arab forces, the most grisly of which ended with the deaths of some 60 civilians in the Palestinian village of Qibya near Ramallah in 1953.
During the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza, east Jerusalem and part of the Golan Heights, Sharon led a tank division.
And six years later, during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, he was called out of retirement to lead troops across Egypt's Suez Canal, cementing his reputation as a war hero.
Ever the maverick, Sharon later broke with his life-long convictions and rightwing nationalist allies to push through an unprecedentedly bold plan to withdraw Israeli troops and 8,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip.
His decision to "disengage" from Gaza and its 1.5 million Palestinian inhabitants was motivated by the fear that demographic realities meant Israel would not long be able to maintain a Jewish majority if it continued to retain territories seized in the Six-Day War."
What is significant for me is the statement: "One of the last members of the generation which founded the Jewish state 1948." This is a pioneer whose time has come to an end.
Lessons for me are:
1. if you want to make REAL CHANGES, you better be ready to be a 'controversial' person as you cannot please everyone when you want to make REAL CHANGES! It is as simple as that!;
2. for political figure, it is really for the history to pass the judgement on: 'is he or she good for the nation's sustainability?' He has done a lot for sure. The war hero or the 'butcher and murderer' if you are from his fiercest oppositions and enemies! This is par for a major figure in the period of war. What is important for me is that he CHANGED course later in his political life by 'disengaging' from Gaza. Almost a total reversal of his earlier conviction. This showed a great trait of a great leader: being able to change course when the STRATEGIC outcome becomes clear that it was NOT sustainable;
3. Israel is a country that I don't know, and probably will never be able to understand. A tiny nation surrounded by alien nations fighting for its survival almost daily? At least NOW the rate of suicide bombing has dwindled to almost zero, people can try to live a 'normal' city life. Everyone going about the business of doing business or study or rest and recreation, etc. Yet, this fragile peace can be shattered anytime and without any reason really! I guessed being 'constantly under threat' spurt it to become one of the most innovative and creative nations, especially in the defense and security arena!
Singapore sometimes is compared with Israel. YET, I am not sure if Singaporeans can be as together as the Israelis if we had the same level of disturbances and 'combat actions'! I hope we never have to find out. Peace to the world and RIP Mr Sharon.
The veteran soldier fought in all of Israel's major wars before embarking on a turbulent political career in 1973 which ended dramatically in January 2006 when he suffered a massive stroke and subsequent coma, from which he never recovered.
Long considered a pariah for his personal but "indirect" responsibility for the 1982 massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by Israel's Lebanese Phalangist allies in Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, Sharon was elected premier in 2001.
One of the last members of the generation which founded the Jewish state 1948, he leaves a complex legacy which saw him push through a policy of separation from the Palestinians, orchestrate Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and begin building the sprawling West Bank barrier in 2002.
Known throughout his military career for his boldness, Sharon also had a stubborn sense of independence. As head of the elite commando unit 101, he engaged in punitive reprisal raids against Arab forces, the most grisly of which ended with the deaths of some 60 civilians in the Palestinian village of Qibya near Ramallah in 1953.
During the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza, east Jerusalem and part of the Golan Heights, Sharon led a tank division.
And six years later, during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, he was called out of retirement to lead troops across Egypt's Suez Canal, cementing his reputation as a war hero.
Ever the maverick, Sharon later broke with his life-long convictions and rightwing nationalist allies to push through an unprecedentedly bold plan to withdraw Israeli troops and 8,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip.
His decision to "disengage" from Gaza and its 1.5 million Palestinian inhabitants was motivated by the fear that demographic realities meant Israel would not long be able to maintain a Jewish majority if it continued to retain territories seized in the Six-Day War."
What is significant for me is the statement: "One of the last members of the generation which founded the Jewish state 1948." This is a pioneer whose time has come to an end.
Lessons for me are:
1. if you want to make REAL CHANGES, you better be ready to be a 'controversial' person as you cannot please everyone when you want to make REAL CHANGES! It is as simple as that!;
2. for political figure, it is really for the history to pass the judgement on: 'is he or she good for the nation's sustainability?' He has done a lot for sure. The war hero or the 'butcher and murderer' if you are from his fiercest oppositions and enemies! This is par for a major figure in the period of war. What is important for me is that he CHANGED course later in his political life by 'disengaging' from Gaza. Almost a total reversal of his earlier conviction. This showed a great trait of a great leader: being able to change course when the STRATEGIC outcome becomes clear that it was NOT sustainable;
3. Israel is a country that I don't know, and probably will never be able to understand. A tiny nation surrounded by alien nations fighting for its survival almost daily? At least NOW the rate of suicide bombing has dwindled to almost zero, people can try to live a 'normal' city life. Everyone going about the business of doing business or study or rest and recreation, etc. Yet, this fragile peace can be shattered anytime and without any reason really! I guessed being 'constantly under threat' spurt it to become one of the most innovative and creative nations, especially in the defense and security arena!
Singapore sometimes is compared with Israel. YET, I am not sure if Singaporeans can be as together as the Israelis if we had the same level of disturbances and 'combat actions'! I hope we never have to find out. Peace to the world and RIP Mr Sharon.
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