Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Passes Away

Rest In Peace

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Passes Away

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died at the age of 85 after spending 8 years in a comatose state following a stroke.

via CNN

Ariel Sharon, whose half century as a military and political leader in Israel was marked with victories and controversies, died Saturday after eight years in a coma, Israeli Army Radio reported. Sharon was 85.

Sharon died at Sheba Medical Center in the Tel Aviv suburb of Tel Hashomer.

The Israeli statesman was a national war hero to many Israelis for his leadership, both in uniform or as a civilian, during every Israeli war.

Many in the Arab world called Sharon “the Butcher of Beirut” after he oversaw Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon while serving as defense minister.

He was in his fifth year as prime minister when he suffered a massive stroke in January 2006, which left him comatose.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

WENN