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Sharon: The Life of a Leader

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[Ariel] "Sharon: The Life of a Leader" by his youngest son, Gilad Sharon, hardback & paperback, (Oct. 2011). My review is not meant to be a biography of the subject of this book: Ariel Sharon. Ariel was a `big man': physically, militarily & politically. For those who may be unfamiliar with Ariel, his life mirrored the military and political history of the state of Israel a decade even before its birth in 1948. Ariel served in the budding Israel Defense Force, led `retaliation' raids against Palestinian terrorists hiding in the Jordan-dominated West Bank, commanded various military units in all of its wars, and eventually becoming its Prime Minister. Again, a `Big Man'. [There are those Arabs who hate him for what he believed in, and, thereby, will rate BOTH my review and the book as a bad one-* or `no'. But, be fair, is my review really `bad' just because I review a book and report that the book is really worth reading to gain a better understanding of an Israeli leader?] But to the book itself, it is written by his youngest son, Gilad, who was about the age of 44 when he finished this book, so he didn't really `know' his father for almost half of Ariel's life - which brings us to how this book came about. The author, Gilad, noted that his father was, what we would call today, a `pack rat' in keeping the many letters, notebooks and documents that Ariel accumulated during his life (okay, to be charitable, an `archivist'). {Somewhere in Ariel's collection is a yellowing letter from myself requesting him to autograph several Israeli FDCs that I had mailed to him; after several months his secretary mailed the FDCs back to me - unsigned -- admittedly, to my disappointment.} From these `in house' family documents, Gilad expanded insights into both his father's character and purpose as an ardent Israeli nationalist. Especially how Ariel promoted the development of over one hundred Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, the West Bank and in the Negev - all in an attempt to establish a better, defensible `security zone' for Israel. From these documents, and meetings with various world leaders who politicked with Ariel, Gilad has written a book worthy of attention to anyone interested in Israeli `statehood' history. [Perhaps the most controversial incident of Ariel's career was the murders of Muslims in the Sabra & Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon that were committed by revengeful Phalangists. Gilad wrote about this incident in several brief pages, whereby he notes that while the Kahan Commission found that "the Phalangists bore direct responsibility for their murderous acts" the Commission found that Ariel as Defense Minister had an "indirect responsibility" for the incident, and thereby, should resign - which he did. Gilad analyzes this topic in about five brief pages, in which he argues that as his father was not responsible for the incident, he should not be held accountable for the Phalangists' actions (p. 293-298). Regarding this massacre, Gilad noted how Ariel did win a libel suit against Time magazine for alleging that Ariel had urged the Pahlangists to take revenge on the [Sabra-Shatila] Palestinians for the murder of Bachir Gemayel (p. 298-300). Then the history of Ariel's election an Prime Minister, and then his cripling stroke. So much history, a fine biography from a proudly defensive son. 625 pages, but so much more could have been written. Lots of new insights regarding the military and political disputes amongst Israeli generals during the 1973 war as to how it should be fought.]

Less a biography of a prominent and controversial Israeli leader than an attempt by a son to show his father in a favorable light, and even more a general defense of the Zionist state, this volume does succeed. General and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon emerges as just the strong but compassionate leader Israel needed, needs, and unfortunately has lost for good. He now lies in a vegetative state. One wonders why he is not allowed to die in peace.

Sharon's son Gilad shows his father to be brave, resolute, and far-sighted in the face of Arab hostility and treachery and European disingenuousness about Zionism.

Arabs have every reason to oppose Zionism since they are prisoners of medieval religiosity and unfulfilled ethnic cravings. Europeans on the other hand, and some Americans, whether out of anti-semitism, guilt for sins of commission and omission towards the Jews, or naive leftist dislike of manly nationalism oppose and close their eyes to the deeds of bloodthirsty Arab terrorists.

This volume presents not only a positive picture of Ariel Sharon; it gives the case for Israeli national determinism to resist and to survive. In my view the position taken by Gilad Sharon is 99% right and justified. Not a great book and not one without repetitions to be avoided it nevertheless makes a splendid case for why and how Israelis may defend their human right to live, prosper, and survive. The civilized world deserves blame and censure that a case for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness HAS TO BE DEFENDED AT ALL BY THIS PEOPLE.

This is a well-written review of a great man's life by his son.
Books like this one enlarge one's view of the past political
climate in parts of the world which have affected us all.
It is interesting to learn of the personal values and positive
qualities of someone who held the fate of his nation and
others in his hands.

Ariel Sharon was a great, albeit controversial, leader of Israel. His decision to withdraw from Gaza in 2005 was heart wrenching. When I found this new biography written by his son, I had high hopes. For the flaws typically brought by a child to a biography of a parent (inability to see flaws, defending dad etc.), I thought perhaps Gilad would be able to get around those flaws. My hopes were not met. While Gilad presents a portrait of his father, there is no real critical assessment of his father's role. He skips those items. For what this book lacks in perspective and scholarship, it adds through access and providing at least a basic narrative of his father.

Gilad Sharon has recorded the history of Israel through the eyes and actions of his father - a biographical saga. So much background has rarely surfaced in contemporary biographies - a fascinating read!

Gilad Sharon......... SHARON....... The Life of a Leader

Ariel Sharon spent his life turning complicated or dangerous situations around almost single handed, from one military crisis after another...... then internal politics ............... followed by international affairs.

Sharon, a decisive leader always with long term objectives which were often undermined by dubious politicians and States with their own self interests.

Just prior to his tragic stroke after he addressed the United Nations on the planned withdrawal from Gaza, the Worlds' leaders almost without exception sought to meet to congratulate him on his achievement for creating international acceptance
"terrorism can and must be defeated by the free nations of the world".

"A LEGEND IN LEADERSHIP TO HIS MANY ADMIRERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."

CYRIL KERN