Sharon was heading toward an election where he would have gotten over 70% of the vote. I had a long talk with an Israeli-born friend of mine last night, and it seems the Israeli people were willing to go Sharon's way and that must be respected, if not fully understood by us. I hope the press underscores Sharon the solidier/general, because as such he saved Israel from the brink of destruction. He'll go down in Jewish history as one of the greats.
Depends on which Jewish history you read. To the faithful and to the real Zionist, Sharon decisions as PM to ethnically cleanse Gaza may negate a lifetime of service.
Disagreement with his policy and actions as to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is one thing. Who knows? Maybe he was right. Maybe he was not. No one can blame him for failing to try. The Palestinian reaction to his misfortune suggests a rare degree of sincerity and regret and even affection.
In any event, it is unquestionable that he has been a great general, a great patriot and a great leader and that he will be, at the very least, very hard to replace.
May Ariel Sharon's family, his co-religionists and his nation be comforted in their grief over this, his final affliction, and remember him as a source of strength and purpose and inspiration.