Sharon of Israel, also known as ARIEL Sharon, was an Israeli politician and general who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 to 2006. He was a major figure in the Israeli military and politics for decades, and was known for his hard-line stance on security issues. Sharon was also a key figure in the peace process between Israel and Palestine, and was instrumental in the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip in 2005.