Major events in Sharon's life
2006-01-05 08:12
Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was fighting for his life on Thursday after suffering a massive stroke.
His state of health has thrown serious doubt over whether he will be able to seek re-election as Israeli prime minister in a March poll.
Sharon, a former general widely known as "the Bulldozer," came to power in 2001 with a reputation as an arch hawk but has undergone a radical transformation, overseeing Israel's pullout from the occupied Gaza Strip.
Following are some of the key events of his life:
February 28, 1928: Ariel Sharon is born in a farming community north of Tel Aviv to parents of Russian origin
1945: Sharon joins Haganah, a clandestine Jewish militia in Palestine
1953: He heads an elite commando force known as Unit 101, which carries out reprisals raids against Palestinians
1967: Sharon leads a tank division in the Arab-Israeli war, which sees Israel seize control of the West Bank, east Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and the Sinai
Sept 1973: Sharon is involved in the foundation of the right-wing Likud party
Oct 1973: Sharon leads the first Israeli division to cross the Suez Canal and surround Egyptian forces in the Middle East war, helping build a reputation in Israel as a war hero.
1977-1981: As minister of agriculture, Sharon is the architect of Israel's settlements of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
1981-1983: Sharon becomes defence minister under prime minister Menachem Begin.
1982: As defence minister, he launches the invasion of Lebanon to crush Palestinian fighters. Several hundred Palestinian refugees at the Sabra and Chatila camps are massacred by Christian militiamen.
Feb 1983: Sharon resigns after an official inquiry finds him indirectly responsible for the massacres.
1984-1990: Sharon returns to politics as trade and industry minister, then construction and housing minister.
1996-1998: He becomes national infrastructure minister in the government of arch-rival Benjanim Netanyahu, then foreign minister until 1999.
Sept 1999: Sharon is elected head of Likud.
Sept 28, 2000: As opposition leader, Sharon visits the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, setting off the Palestinian intifada or uprising.
Feb 6, 2001: Sharon elected prime minister.
May 18, 2001: Israeli warplanes bomb the Palestinian territories for the first time since the 1967 war.
Dec 5, 2001: The army lays besieges Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at his Ramallah headquarters after three deadly suicide bombings.
March 29, 2002: Israel launches Operation Defensive Shield, the broadest campaign in Palestinian territories since 1967
June 16, 2002: Israel begins construction of West Bank barrier.
Jan 28, 2003: Likud wins a sweeping election victory and Sharon remains premier
June 4, 2003: Roadmap peace plan officially launched at peace summit in Aqaba attended by Sharon, Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas and US President George W Bush.
July 9, 2004: The International Court of Justice rules parts of the West Bank barrier are illegal and should be torn down.
Nov 11, 2004: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dies in a Paris hospital.
Aug 15-23, 2005: Israel evacuates all Gaza settlers and four West Bank settlements. The last Israeli troops leave on September 12.
Sept 26, 2005: Sharon narrowly defeats a Netanyahu attempt to force early primaries for the Likud leadership.
Nov 15, 2005: Sharon's son Omri pleads guilty to charges relating to allegations illegal financing of the premier's 1999 campaign for the leadership of Likud. The affair also threatened Sharon himself.
Nov 21, 2005: Sharon calls snap polls for early 2006 and forms a new party, Kadima.
Dec 18, 2005: Sharon rushed to hospital after suffering minor stroke. He is discharged two days later.
Dec 20, 2005: Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sweeps to victory in the contest to succeed Sharon as leader of Likud.
Jan 4, 2006: Sharon is rushed to hospital after suffering a massive stroke and undergoes emergency surgery in the early hours of January 5.