Barak's successor was Ariel Sharon, a former Prime Minister of Israel. Sharon was a career soldier and politician who served in the Israeli Defense Forces from its creation in 1948 until 1973, when he retired with the rank of Major-General. He was elected to the Knesset in 1973 and served as a cabinet minister in various governments until 2001, when he was elected Prime Minister. He held the office until 2006, when he suffered a stroke and was replaced by Ehud Olmert.