Israel's Media Salute Controversial Hero Sharon

[Purveyor]

Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli media on Sunday lavished praise on former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who died the previous day in hospital after eight years in a coma.

But along with plaudits for his military and political courage there was also acknowledgement of an arrogant and devious side to his complex personality.

"The life of Ariel Sharon and the life of the state of Israel were intertwined into a single cord," commentator Nahum Barnea wrote in the top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily, in a piece entitled "The warrior rests."

"He was everything the fathers of the state dreamed they would see in the generation of the sons, the natives of the Land of Israel: a handsome and strong farmer who works the land, a soldier for life.

"The fathers provided the vision; the sons were responsible for delivering. And there was no one who delivered with more resoluteness, more talent and more cunning than Ariel Sharon," he wrote.

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http://news.yahoo.com/israel-39-media-salute-controversial-hero-sharon-143942783.html

[dionysus]

1. oh FFS "...a handsome and strong farmer who works the land, a soldier for life..."

Bridges over Madison County-esque

[dipsydoodle]

2. Israeli police to investigate ‘expressions of joy’ at Sharon’s death

The Israeli Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch instructed police on Sunday to probe public placards that have appeared proclaiming satisfaction and even joy at the death on Saturday of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The notices were posted in several Yeshivas or religious academies after Sharon’s death Saturday.

A message which appeared at the Torat HaChaim yeshiva in central Israel, which was evacuated from a Gaza settlement following Sharon’s orders to pull out, read: “A hearty mazal tov to Ariel Sharon upon his demise,” the Times of Israel reported. ‘Mazal Tov’ is a Jewish congratulation at birthdays and other significant events.

Police have said that they will set up a team alongside representatives from the State Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office and will decide upon further legal action where appropriate.

http://rt.com/news/sharon-death-joy-investigate-493/