The dust settles on Sharon
Dr Alan Craig, Lecturer in Israel and Middle East Studies writes article for Political Studies Association (PSA) on former Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.
The article begins:
"You knew where you were with Sharon. He was no Mandela. He was an Israeli patriot in the military mould; he was a warrior who never missed a war from the founding of the state in 1948 until he fell into his coma in 2005. He was a brilliant General in Israel’s 1967 and 1973 wars. He was a bitter opponent of Palestinian nationalism. As Minister of Defence he drove the PLO from Lebanon and as Prime Minister he crushed the Palestinian insurgency of the Second Intifada. He championed the settlers and built the Wall. At the funeral Tony Blair talked of Sharon’s love of his country and his military tactics. Of course, no one mentioned Sabra and Shatila but among Palestinians and indeed many Israelis his memory will always be tarnished by the massacres. Palestinians do not mourn the passing of a cruel and bitter enemy."
