Ariel Sharon (Campaign Website)Party Affiliation: Likud : Moderate, right of center.
Born: 1928 in Kfar Malal, Israel
Education: LL.B. Law & Middle Eastern Studies, Hebrew University
Professional Experience: 1942-48 Member of the Haganah (Jewish resistance)
1948 Infantry Commander, War of Independence
1949-50 Commander of the Golani Brigade
1951-52 Intelligence Officer
1953 Founder & Commander of Special Anti-Terror unit
1954-57 Commander, Paratroop Brigade
1958-62 Commander, Infantry College
1964-65 Chief of Staff, Northern Command
1967 Commander, Armored Division, Six Day War
1969-73 G.O.C. Southern Command
1973 Retired from Israeli Defense Forces
1974 Joined Knesset as member of Likud party
1977 Knesset MK of Shlomtzion party; joined Herut party
and was appointed Minister of Agriculture
1981-83 Minister of Defense (Likud)
1984-90 Minister of Industry and Trade (Likud)
1990-92 Minister of Housing and Construction
1996- July 1999 Minister of National Infrastructure
October 1998-1999 Minister of Foreign Affairs
1999-Present MK, Chairman of Likud Party
Background: After joining the Haganah at age 14, Sharon commanded an infantry company in the Alexandroni Brigade during the 1948 War of Independence. In 1953 he found the elite "101" special commando unit which was charged with retaliatory operations. After serving in the Sinai campaign, Sharon attended Camberley Staff College in Great Britain. After a distinguished military career, Sharon entered politics and was elected to the Knesset in 1973 where he served as Security Adviser to then Prime Minister Yitzakh Rabin. Sharon is probably best known for his orchestration of Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982 where he is largely accused of allowing the massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. Sharon continued his career in politics, rising to prominence again under Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whom he replaced as Likud Chairman in 1999.
Sharon is married and has two children.
