ISRAEL: Mourners arrive at the family ranch of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, where his wife is buried

Record ID: 397967

  • Title: ISRAEL: Mourners arrive at the family ranch of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, where his wife is buried
  • Date: 11th January 2014
  • Summary: SYCAMORE RANCH, SOUTHERN ISRAEL (JANUARY 11, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS SCENIC VIEWS OF FORMER ISRAELI PRESIDENT'S HOME "SYCAMORE RANCH" GRAVESITE OF SHARON'S WIFE LILY (BLUE FENCE IN FOREGROUND) GRAVESTONE READING IN HEBREW: 'LILY SHARON' SHARON'S SON, GILAD, ENTERING GRAVESITE GILAD SHARON, ACCOMPANIED BY WOMAN AND CHILDREN, LOOKING AT GRAVE GILAD SHARON AND GIRL STANDING B
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA30GY69ELXXH60M38PLM412NS
  • Story Text: Preparations were underway in southern Israel on Saturday (January 11) after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was in a coma for eight years after suffering a stroke at the height of his power, died aged 85.
    Sharon's son Gilad, who earlier in the day announced the death at the hospital where his father had been treated, arrived at the family's Sycamore Ranch where Sharon's wife Lily is buried.
    A rancher in private life renowned for his big appetite, Sharon became known as "the Bulldozer", in part for his headlong pursuit of hardline policies that included settlement expansion in territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
    He left historic footprints across the Middle East through military invasion and Jewish settlement-building on occupied land that the Palestinians seek for a state but also with a shock decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
    On Saturday neighbours and friends gathered at the site of the ranch to pay respects.
    "There are those who really love Arik Sharon, there is no doubt, and admire him and there will also be those who will say he had a few failures along the way but one thing is certain - that he significantly contributed to the country," said one man.
    "He built the settlements but was also the first to uproot settlements. He was Mr. Security but was also dismissed as Defence Minister," added a man called Shuly.
    Sharon died at Sheba Medical Center, near Tel Aviv, where he had been in a coma since being hit by a stroke at the pinnacle of his power as prime minister in January 2006. His condition had declined precipitously since the middle of last week.
    Officials said Sharon would be given a state funeral to which foreign dignitaries would be invited.
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