Comments by world leaders about Ariel Sharon

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

JERUSALEM (AP) - A selection of memorable quotes about Ariel Sharon, Israel's former prime minister who died Saturday at age 85:
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"The only one left is Sharon." - Then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, hailing Sharon in 2005 as the only Israeli leader who could deliver peace with the Palestinians.
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"A man of enormous courage ... a wonderful, historic leader." - Then-U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, after Sharon's 2006 stroke.
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Sharon was "the first Israeli leader who stopped claiming Israel had a right to all of the Palestinians' land." - Palestinian commentator Ghazi al-Saadi, commenting on Israel's withdrawal from Gaza Strip.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140111/DAB8MUVO3.html

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In this March 7, 1984 file photo, an Israeli soldier keeps his finger on the trigger of his assault rifle while Former Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, right, stands on the bridge overlooking the Awali River, Israel's most northerly position in Sidon, Lebanon. Sharon, the hard-charging Israeli general and prime minister who was admired and hated for his battlefield exploits and ambitions to reshape the Middle East, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. The 85-year-old Sharon had been in a coma since a debilitating stroke eight years ago. (AP Photo/Max Nash, File)

[ForgoTheConsequence]

1. War criminal.

Hell is too nice of a place for someone like him.

[KeepItReal]

2. The same dude that instigated an uprising in 2000?

After the withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000, attention turned back to Yasser Arafat, who was under pressure from Barak and US President Bill Clinton to abandon gradual negotiations and launch an all-out push for a final settlement at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Two weeks of talks failed to come up with acceptable solutions to the status of Jerusalem and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

In the uncertainty of the ensuing impasse, Ariel Sharon, the veteran right-winger who succeeded Binyamin Netanyahu as Likud leader, toured the al-Aqsa/Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem on 28 September. Sharon's critics saw it as a highly provocative move. Palestinian demonstrations followed, quickly developing into what became known as the al-Aqsa intifada, or uprising.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/2000.stm

[Whisp]

3. I thought the evil fucker monster was already dead?

may the worms feast on his wizened black small heart.

rest in torture

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Statement by the President on the Passing of Ariel Sharon

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the family of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and to the people of Israel on the loss of a leader who dedicated his life to the State of Israel. We reaffirm our unshakable commitment to Israel’s security and our appreciation for the enduring friendship between our two countries and our two peoples. We continue to strive for lasting peace and security for the people of Israel, including through our commitment to the goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security. As Israel says goodbye to Prime Minister Sharon, we join with the Israeli people in honoring his commitment to his country.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/11/statement-president-passing-ariel-sharon

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Barf. He deserved to die in the Hague.

[Jesus Malverde]

6. A close reading shows the president being presidential and diplomatic...

but I know whatcha mean...

[AnalystInParadise]

11. I could maybe

agree to this, if they had brought Arafat in with Sharon to The Hague.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. There's a creepy lifesized wax model of him in a hospital bed....

They arranged the lighting to look like a heavenly glow.


Some people saw him as a monster.


I saw him as this:

[Alamuti Lotus]

8. The butcher of Beirut eulogized by a flock of bastard whores... Quite fitting. *nt

[ReRe]

9. If that man makes it into Heaven...

... I ain't goin' there. I always thought he was the meanest man that walked the earth. War criminal.

[AnalystInParadise]

12. Seriously?

Not defending Sharon, but meaner than Idi Amin? Meaner than Hitler? Meaner than Stalin? Meaner than Pol Pot? Meaner than Chavez or his stooge Maduro? Seriously?

[ReRe]

13. You picked a good moniker

Yes, seriously. Just as bad. Chavez and Maduro in the same class? You have got to be kidding me. What the hey did they ever do that you could lump them in there with the rest you mentioned. I noticed you didn't include GWB, Cheney and Rumsfeld in your grouping.

Welcome to DU. Hang around for a while. You'll learn allot here.

[Nye Bevan]

10. Obama honors Sharon's dedication to Israel

Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Saturday lauded the late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's dedication to the Jewish state and reaffirmed an "unshakable commitment" to Israel's security as Vice President Joe Biden prepared to attend the funeral.

Obama called Sharon - who died at age 85 on Saturday and had been in a coma for the entirety of Obama's presidency - "a leader who dedicated his life to the state of Israel." He said he sent his "deepest condolences" to Sharon's family.

The United States has long been a critical ally of Israel. But Obama has had a strained relationship with the current Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on issues including Israel's settlement policies - championed by Sharon - and the current U.S. diplomatic drive to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability.

......

"We continue to strive for lasting peace and security for the people of Israel, including through our commitment to the goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security," the Democratic president added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/11/us-israel-sharon-obama-idUSBREA0A0EG20140111