Ariel Sharon, Lion of Israel

[Nye Bevan]

He was a soldier. He was a statesman. He was an Israeli. He was a Jew. And Ariel Sharon was one of the great men of the modern era. When the times forced warring upon him, he led with brilliance and courage, his against-odds victories crucial to his country’s survival. When the times offered openings toward peace with enemies — openings that often only he could see and use — he was bold in seeking the way forward.

......

Off the battlefield and in the cabinet as defense minister in 1981, he sent jets to destroy Saddam Hussein’s nuclear reactor, an attack that was condemned worldwide but spared humanity the nightmare of Saddam having the bomb. And it was Defense Minister Sharon who destroyed the PLO ministate in Lebanon in 1982.

......

Sharon was never just one thing. He had a way of being able to see around historical corners and adapting tactics for the circumstances. So, as he aged, the man who had become known for waging wars redefined himself as one who took great risks for peace. Virtually alone, he had the credibility to carve out de facto borders and begin the process of surrendering land to the Palestinians.

No one but Sharon could have commanded Israel’s historic withdrawal from Gaza or looked forward to ceding further territory, bilaterally if possible, unilaterally if necessary. Such was his standing not only at home, but abroad, including in the U.S. Before the stroke that cut down Sharon in January 2006, he was committed to forging whatever peace could be had with Palestinian neighbors — who, tragically, have still not demonstrated willingness to live alongside Israel without incessantly warring against innocents.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ariel-sharon-lion-israel-article-1.1576467

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Lions are predators. He apparently thought that the Palestinians

were wildebeests, intended by God to feed his hunger.

[redgreenandblue]

2. It is a shame that this war criminal died in a hospital rather than a prison cell. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Barf.

[MattBaggins]

4. My eyes are still dry

[Chan790]

5. We should not honor the passing of monsters. n/t

[mantis49]

6. I've only heard one news report on what the Palestinians think of his passing.

N/T

[TransitJohn]

7. Bloodthirsty, murdering, war criminal, serial human rights abuser eom

n/t

[Jesus Malverde]

8. Quiet Turnout for Ariel Sharon’s Lying-in-State

Under a low, slate overcast, the coffin containing the body of Ariel Sharon lay in state on Sunday on the grounds of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. All day, ordinary Israelis gathered to pay their respects, remark on the extraordinary role the man played in the history of the state, and exchange thoughts on why more people did not turn out.

“I was surprised,” says Rina Cohen, who arrived from Miami for a wedding, and ended up at the prelude to a state funeral, set for Monday. “I expected more.”

“You know what?” says Yehuda Haviv, who came with her. “The reason is eight years.” That’s the duration between the January day in 2005 when Sharon suffered a massive stroke, and the January day in 2014 when his body finally succumbed to the damage. Eight years is a long time to get used to the idea that someone is not coming back. “You like to have the coffee when it’s hot,” Haviv says. “When it’s cold…”

Sharon’s death on Saturday dominated Israel’s daily papers and broadcast and digital media. Tributes flowed from every quarter of Jewish Israeli society. But at midday in Jerusalem, the number of photographers and reporters outside the Knesset frequently exceeded the number of mourners. Judging by the number of police on hand, and attendants standing by with water coolers stationed every few meters, preparations had been made for many more.

Read more: Light Turnout At Sharon Lying In State After Years In Coma | TIME.com http://world.time.com/2014/01/12/quiet-turnout-for-ariel-sharons-lying-in-state/

[adavid]

9. One less war criminal..

Never forget the Sabra and Shatilla massacre

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. History will remember Ariel Sharon for bringing an end to the Jewish State

No single individual did more than Ariel Sharon to insure that Israel cannot remain both a Jewish and Democratic state. By engineering the distribution of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in such a manner that absolutely guarantees that there will never be a viable Palestinian state and thus there will never be a two state solution - Israel will in the not so distant future have an overwhelming Palestinian majority under its sovereignty with no possibility of establishing workable and viable boarders that allow a sovereign Palestinian state. Thus Israel will be a state where a Jewish minority rules over an overwhelming Arab majority - until such a time that political rights are granted to the Palestinian majority - and Israel then becomes a democratic state - but no longer a Jewish state.

[NuclearDem]

11. A minority population treating the majority population like subhumans?

Wonder where we've seen that before.