Because Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, didn’t really do anything for the past 8 years, some of the obituaries published today were probably written by journalists (or interns) who have passed away themselves in the meantime. How ironic.

I was on the Israeli-Gaza border in 2005 when the forced withdrawal of Israeli settlers from Gaza took place and I found it a right and bold move, although with hindsight it didn’t bring the positive results that proponents of the Gaza disengagement had hoped for.

There is much more in Ariel Sharon’s life that I disagree and disapprove of than I approve of, but the courage required for standing up for a risky plan against the opposition of most of his own party and his political base is a character trait found far too rarely.