fbpx

Analysis

Left Foot Forward: Ariel Sharon’s mixed legacy by Richard Pater

[ssba]

Arik Sharon, as he was affectionately known to Israelis, will be buried later today next to his beloved wife Lily on Anemone Hill in the grounds of Sycamore farm, in the southern Israel. Yesterday, as officials stood on the hill and planned the funeral with full military honours, the farm continued to function as it does most days, with sheep and dairy produce being loaded onto trucks to be sold at the local market.

Whilst he built his reputation as a heroic fighter within Israel, he was, and is, a reviled figure among Israel’s enemies. There are ‘celebrations’ today across the Arab world to mark his funeral. Known to some as the Butcher of Beirut for his role in the Lebanon War, Sharon nonetheless oversaw profound events which continue to reverberate to this day – often confounding his critics on both left and right.

As well as being the family ranch and a fully functioning farm, Sycamore farm also hosts the late Israeli Prime Minister’s private archives. The archives, which include notes, letters and official documents, can be found in a discreet room behind the sheep pens. Only Sharon’s two sons have the key.

Read this article in full at Left Foot Forward.