Ariel Sharon
- Born in 1928 in farming community north of Tel Aviv
- Joined underground Jewish military organization Haganah in 1942
- Fought as platoon commander in Arab-Israeli war of 1948-49
- Led Commando Unit 101 that carries out reprisal raids in 1953
- Led paratroopers in the 1956 Suez War
- Elected member of parliament in 1973
- Served as security advisor to then prime minister Yitzhak Rabin
- Appointed defense minister in 1981
- Led Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, resigns after being found responsible for failing to prevent massacres in Palestinian refugee camps
- Appointed minister of housing and construction in 1990
- Appointed foreign minister in 1997
- Elected prime minister in 2001, one year after controversial visit to the Temple Mount
- Directed the withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005
- Established the Kadima party in 2005, new elections set for March 2006
- Has been in a coma since a massive stroke on Jan. 4, 2006