Sharon
The Life of a Leader
Gilad Sharon

Harper Collins
October 25, 2011 / ISBN: 976-0-06-172150-2
Non-Fiction, Bio, politics
Amazon

Reviewed by Elise Cooper

Gilad, Ariel Sharon·s youngest son, documents his father·s life and times in the book, Sharon. Having been a close confidant, Gilad was able to comb through his father·s archives: personal notes, diaries, correspondence, to name a few. The reader is able to gain insight into Sharon as a father, military hero, and Prime Minister.

The reader quickly becomes aware that the author very much loves, respects, and reveres his dad. When asked about this he commented, ·The personal side is the one I enjoyed writing the most about since the public was not exposed to this part of my dad. He was a close friend, warm, loving, with a great sense of humor. The world only saw my father·s other side, the strong and dominant personality.·

Regarding his father·s health after his debilitating stroke suffered six years ago, he acknowledged as he had in the book, that he and his brother insisted on measures to keep his dad alive. It is obvious from his writings and interview that he maintains hope that his dad will recover. Today his father has ·minimal consciousness. We hope for the best. When he sleeps he sleeps. When he is awake he looks at me. He moves his fingers when I ask him. He possibly watches TV. He has not lost a pound. You never know.·

Some might think the author·s admiration for his dad would taint his recollections, but in actuality he provides an interesting perspective regarding events involving his father. For example, in the book, he describes Sharon·s demeanor before a 1967 War battle as ·G-d, what confidence, what icy calm the man possessed.· The reader is able to understand why Sharon was a successful military leader: his calmness under fire, his skill of pushing his men to the peak of their capabilities, his ability to use the intelligence provided, and a familiarity of the terrain. The book delves into a very comprehensive description of Sharon·s role in Israel·s wars.

Gilad also talked about how deeply wounded his father was and explained that he founded the Kadima Party after he was pushed out of Likud because of the disengagement from Gaza. He refers to his father·s actions as ·an act of leadership, making a decision in the best interests for Israel. After withdrawing we were able to act because we were no longer in control of that area.· Condoleezza Rice appears to have agreed with both opinions when she stated in her book, No Higher Honor, Ariel Sharon talked about ·painful sacrifices. He had not meant that just in the political sense. Those sacrifices were deeply personal for him·He seemed to embody the Israeli experience because, in truth, without toughness, perseverance, and even ruthlessness, Israel would have ceased to exist in a neighborhood bent on its destruction.·

The most interesting part of the book is the author·s recollections of his father·s views about various leaders: Yasser Arafat, a habitual liar; Moshe Dayan, brave on the battlefield and a coward in public life; Benjamin Netanyahu, traitorous and a liar; Ehud Olmert, not worthy of being a Prime Minister; and Shimon Peres, dangerous and someone who put his own ambitions over national security. Among those Ariel Sharon did admire, trust, and respect: Yitzhak Rabin, President George W. Bush, Elliott Abrams, Tony Blair, and Condoleezza Rice. Gilad commented directly that this bond established was based ·on mutual values of freedom, justice, and our war against Islamic fundamentalists. It is like a brotherhood.·

The book chronicles how Sharon·s relationship with the Bush administration allowed him to accept the ·Roadmap for Peace,· even with reservations. Gilad stated ·Friends don·t always have to agree about everything. My father made his position very clear with Mr. Abrams, Ms. Rice, and President Bush; what he could and could not do and why.·

The book also discusses how the Bush Administration would not condemn Israel·s response to the terrorist attacks, seeing it as Israel·s right of self-defense. There was never any talk of ·disproportionate response· by Israel. Gilad noted that his dad felt the correct response is one in which the terrorists understand there is zero tolerance for Israel being attacked. He wanted Americans to understand the threat, ·What would America do if the Cubans fired at Miami? How long would it take before Cuba would be ashes?·

Sharon is a compelling book about the man and his impact on world events. He is a great military figure, and an historic leader who came to be admired by his contemporary world leaders for the views he espoused. Ariel Sharon was a straight talker who said what he meant and meant what he said.