Warrior: An Autobiography

by Ariel Sharon, David Chanoff

In this autobiography, former Prime Minister of Israel Ariel Sharon tells his captivating story with frankness, power, intelligence, and a brilliant gift for detail.

Prime Minister of Israel from March 2001 to April 2006, Ariel Sharon was a dynamic and controversial leader. A hero in Israel's wars, perhaps the most daring and successful commander in Israel's extraordinary military history, Sharon has always been a warrior, whether the enemies were hostile Arab nations, terrorists, Time magazine, or rival politicians.

The public man is well known—aggressive in battle, hardline in politics—but the private man has always been obscured by Sharon's dazzling career and powerful personality.

In this compelling and dramatic autobiography, the real Sharon appears for the first a complex man, a loving father, a figure of courage and compassion. A warrior who commands the respect and love of his troops, a visionary, and an uncompromising, ruthless pragmatist, Sharon is as outspoken as his friends—and enemies—would expect him to be.

Genres: Biography, Israel, Middle East, History, Politics, Military Fiction, Nonfiction

594 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Israeli military and political leader Ariel Sharon, originally Ariel Scheinermann served as defense from 1981 to 1983 and as prime minister from 2001 to 2006.

Ariel Sharon is an Israeli general and statesman, former Israeli Prime Minister. Sharon served as Prime Minister from March 2001 until April 2006, though he was unable to carry out his duties after suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006, when he fell into a coma and entered a persistent vegetative state.

During his career, Sharon was a controversial figure among many factions, both inside and outside Israel. The Israeli government established the Kahan Commission to investigate Sharon's involvement in the Sabra and Shatila massacre, and subsequently found he bore "indirect responsibility", specifically "for having disregarded the prospect of acts of vengeance and bloodshed by the Phalangists against the population of the refugee camps and for having failed to take this danger into account. Sharon resigned from the Defence Ministry, but remained in the cabinet as minister without portfolio.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Sharon's policies caused a rift within the Likud Party, and he ultimately left Likud to form a new party called Kadima. He became the first Prime Minister of Israel who did not belong to either Labor or Likud (the two parties that have traditionally dominated Israeli politics). The new party created by Sharon, with Ehud Olmert having stepped in as its leader after Sharon fell ill in the midst of election season, won the most Knesset seats in the 2006 elections, and became the senior coalition partner in the Israeli government. Following the rise in 2009 of Israel's second Netanyahu government, Kadima has now become the senior member of the loyal opposition in the Knesset.

Prime Minister Sharon was mainly responsible, in 2004, for the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the evacuation of Jewish settlements there. These measures were welcomed in many political and diplomatic circles around the world, but the Israeli right wing responded with anger and perplexity.

In his military career he attained the rank of Major-General.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This great soldier/leader outlines his fascinating life and his struggle for all that is good He starts with his childhood on a pioneer Moshav farm and explains how when ever he got tired his father would remind him 'Look how far we've come' and that would encourage him to go on This wisdom has guided him through his life and ensured that he has always triumphed over those mean spirits that have and (continue) to malign him.

In this volume , he deals with his early life and his role in the War of Independence.
He reveals the true context of affairs behind incidents ,which Israel's many enemy propagandists, have used to malign him and Israel.
For example, Israel-hating ideologues like to refer to raid against Arab terrorists in the Arab border village of Kibbiya in 1953.They like to point to unintentional casualties of Arab civillians, as proof of 'Zionist atrocities' but the truth is that raid followed years of bloody attacks into Israel by Palestinian terrorists, a reign of terror against Israel's civillian population, living in border areas. In 1951 , 137 Israelis were murdered by terrorists, almost all civillians, many of them women and children. In 1952, the number rose to 162.1953 was especially terrible. In that year over 3000 incidents took place, almost ten a day. Again there were over 160 deaths. Israel took it's case to the UN, but it was ignored. Eventually it undertook action aimed at terror bases. The raid on Kibbiya was mounted in response to a particularly horrendous incident in the town of Yehud, in which terrorists, murdered a young mother and her two infants, one and two years old while they were asleep. Police investigations revealed that the raid had been mounted from the Arab border village of Kibbiya, into an area that had been subject to terror attacks almost every day. In Kibbiya, Israeli forces fought a battle against Palestinian terrorists, backed by Jordanian army units. Several Arab civillians died when buildings in the village were destoyed as always happens in war. Israeli forces had actually taken Arab children to safety, but this too has been ignored in leftist and Moslem propaganda accounts.
All Israeli actions have always been in retaliation to Arab terror against Israel's people. Israel has never acted, except in reaction to attacks and ugly threats against her people, a fact anti-Israel hate-mongers have always hidden.
Another incident in which propagandists have played up to demonize Israel through the years has been Sabra and Shatilla. For years PLO terrorists, had inflicted a reign of terror against Lebanon's Christian population, murdering tens of thousands of Christian men, women and children. At Damour in 1976, the Christian village was destoyed on Arafat's orders, and hundreds of Lebanese civillians, mainly women and children were butchered. After the assasination of Christian President Bashir Gemayel, the IDF had allowed Christian Phalangist fighters into the Sabra and Shatilla areas of Beirut, to flush out PLO units controlling the area. Palestinian civillians had died in the fighting, though this was far less than that inflicted in many massacres by the PLO and Syrians of Christian Lebanese down the years. For this their were massive protests in Israel, and a massive international media offensive against Israel.
The book also describes the terror by PLO thugs against the Arab civilian population in the disputed territories. One example referred to is the sickening and systematic campaign of brutal murders, by PLO terrorists of defenseless Arab prostitutes in Gaza after rumours that several prostitutes had passed information onto the Israeli Defense Forces.

Apart from clarifying various propaganda myths, Sharon talks about his own life, it's trials,tribulations and tragedies, as well as his vision for Israel as a Jewish State, the project of Jews all over the world. Of Israeli identity being at one with Jewish identity, and of the Jews unbroken presence in the Land of Israel, for over three thousand years.
Ultimately a great work in understanding one of the greatest (and most maligned leaders of our time) as well as Israel itself.

[نبيه العاكوم · Rating 5 out of 5]

ملخص ما جاء في مذكرات السفّاح شارون:
١- "عندما أخذت أكبر، بدأت أفهم أن العداوة ليست حكراً على اليهود ضد العرب بل هي تتحكم باليهود بعضهم مع بعض".
٢- "سياسة بريطانيا أثناء الإنتداب مناهضة للصهيونية... بدأت العداوة ضد الإنكليز تتحول إلى كراهية... أعطوا العرب أفضل المواقع الإستراتيجية قبل مغادرتهم".
٣- أثناء حرب "التحرير"، أصيب في صلب خصيتيه برصاص أردني.
٤- وصفه للجنود العرب "محاربون ممتازون، رماة جيدون ومدفعيون مهرة، يحاربون كالأسود في الميدان. لا يحبون العراك بالسلاح الأبيض".
٥- رغم توليه مناصب رفيعة في الجيش إلا أنه لم يكن متخرجاً من مدرسة الضباط.
٦- "موشي دايان أشجع الجنود في أرض المعركة، وجبان رعديد عند اخذ قرار علني"
٧- ينقل رفضه لخطة بارليف، وكيف الأخير وغيره من الضباط أجبروه على ترك الجيش بعد انتهاء معركة الإستنزاف وقبل حرب الغفران ١٩٧٣.
٨- "لو أنزلت منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية الملك حسين عن عرشه لأصبح الأردن رسمياً كياناً سياسياً فلسطينياً... إذا أتيحت لنا إذا فرصة حلها بإيجاد دولة فلسطينية رسمية، فإني أرى وجوب أن ننتهز فوراً هذه القصة ولا نفوتها". وهنا برز موقفه بمعارضة مساندة ملك الأردن ضد الفلسطينيين.
٩- ينقل بالتفصيل كيفية إنشاء حزب الليكود مع بيغن لوضع حد لزعامة حزب العمل منذ إنشاء الكيان الإسرائيلي.
١٠- "الرخاء المادي سمة خلقية يتقاسمها العديد من الجيل السياسي الكبير الإسرائيلي، لم يكن عندهم الوقت للإهتمام برفاهيتهم الشخصية التي كانت لا تعنيهم بشيء".
١١- ينقل في حرب الغفران ١٩٧٣ بطولات الجيش المصري (في بدايتها فقط)، "لم يكتف المصريون بصد أشهر وحداتنا، بل عمدوا إلى نتف ريشها"، لكنه ينتقل لإبراز بطولاته الخارقة بعد ذلك بعبوره القناة عبر ثغرة الدفرسوار.
١٢- "كسينجر اعتبر أن ايقاف المعارك في تلك المرحلة سيضع إسرائيل والولايات المتحدة في موقف ضعف على طاولة المفاوضات. لذلك طالب بأن ترفض الحكومة الإسرائيلية طلب وقف إطلاق النار ليتاح للجيش الإسرائيلي تحسين مواقعه".
١٣- يهاجم فكرة أن لولا الجسر الجوي الأميركي ما صمدت إسرائيل في حرب أكتوبر ١٩٧٣، "اننا بالتأكيد حليف الولايات المتحدة، ولكننا لسنا دولة تدور في فلكها، وأننا حققنا استقلالنا بأنفسنا... من يسمعهم (الأميركيين) يصدق أن اسرائيل دولة عاجزة عن الدفاع عن نفسها بوسائلها الخاصة".
١٤- وصفه للسادات "يتحدث على حدّة عن العرب بأسلوب يشوبه الجفاف. يشعر وسائر المصريين أنهم منفصلون عنهم، متميزون بعض الشيء. في ذهنيتهم أبناء حضارة الفراعنة المصريين، التي سبقت الإسلام".
١٥- موقفه من إيران الخمينية "ما من رجل عاقل يقبل تعصب الخميني... وبعد الأخذ في عين الاعتبار المصالح البعيدة المدى مع إيران اقترحت إقامة اتصالات سرية مع هذه البلاد ولا سيّما مع قادتها العسكريين".
١٦- موقفه من الأكراد "من مصلحتنا مؤازرة الأكراد في القتال الذي شنّه ضد العراق، أشدّ أعداء إسرائيل لدادة، في سبيل نيل استقلالهم.

لبنان، خصص له شارون أكثر من ٢٠٠ صفحة
١٧- "أقمنا علاقات تقليدية مع الأقلية المارونية التي كانت مهددة في استمرار، على غرار اليهود".
١٨- نقل في مذكراته زيارة لبنان، منزل بشير جميل، ولقائه به وأبيه بيار الجميل وكميل شمهون، عدة مرات.
١٩- أشاد بوصفه الرئيس بشير جميل، بينما اعتبر أخيه أمين جميل "لم يكن يتمتع بمواصفات القائد... يرتدي بدلة بيضاء جميلة متقنة الصنع، فأدركت في قرارة نفسي وأنا أنظر إليه، أن أياماً عصيبة تنتظرنا"، أحد مرافقي أمين يهمس في أذني "أنتم اليهود مجانين، أنتم شعب مجنون".
٢٠- موقفه من الشيعة والدروز "ومن دون الدخول في أي تفاصيل، لم أرَ يوماً في الشيعة أعداء إسرائيل على المدى البعيد، ولا حتى في الدروز".
٢١- يبرئ نفسه من مجزرة صبرا وشاتيلا، متهماً الميليشيات المسيحية حصراً بارتكابها دون ذكر إسم أحد بالتحديد.

كتاب مذكرات السفاح شارون من أفضل كتب المذكرات لشخصية سياسية، بالمعلومات القيمة جداً، ونقله استراتيجية بلاده في حروبها ضد العرب ومسألة الإستيطان. رغم جرائمه وفظاعته، إلا أنه بالمنظور الإسرائيلي أثبت ولائه لقضيته ووطنه.

[Mohamad Jaber]

i read this book a while back when i was in highschool. the details are vivid, the plot tho insipid at times is generally made interesting by the historical relevance. the part conveying his childhood in the midst of the growth of the zionist movement way one i read several times. however he was a ruthless criminal and so i obstinate from rating this book.

[Zainab · Rating 5 out of 5]

سفاح يكتب وجهة نظره في كل شيء خاصة جرائمه

مع هذا فهو قائد عسكري بارع، مبتكر في مجاله، مخلص لأمته وشعبه، بذل كل جهده لخدمة قضيته -وإن كانت قضية باطلة- في أي موقع كان جنديّاً أو قائداً عسكرياً أو سياسياً، تحدّث عن علاقة الكيان الصهيوني المغتصب بدول الجوار وبالأنظمة الحاكمة، عن عملية السلام وكيف تخدم مصالحه، عن غزة والضفة وعرب 48 الذين أسماهم (القنبلة الموقوتة)، طموحاته حين كان وزير الزراعة في بسط السيطرة على صحراء مصر ونيلها ليحوّلها إلى جنات خضراء كما فعل في مزرعة السادات، عن سوريا وعن إيران ووو.. باختصار كتاب جدير بالقراءة

[محمود المسلمي · Rating 4 out of 5]

شارون. الاسم وحده كفيل بجلب الفزع و التشاؤوم. هذا السفاح ألة القتل الجهنمية التي لم تتوقف لنصف قرن عن إزهاق الأرواح و سفك الدماء و إهلاك الحرث والنسل لكن
مهلا مهلا تريث قليلا ألا نملك الشجاعة لنراه بعيون مواطنيه وأعدائنا ؟
انا شخصيا أستطيع أن أجزم أن لو لدي الوطن العربي ثلاثة أو أربعة من أمثال جولدا مائير و شارون ما ببقي حالنا كما هو عليه الأن.
من بين الأخلاص الشديد لوطنه الوليد و تفانيه في العمل والشجاعة منقطعة النظير . صفات أحسد الصهاينة علي توافرها في بطل من أبطالهم.

[Razan Alas'ad · Rating 4 out of 5]

من مفارقات مذكرات أرييل شارون، أنه حين يذكر موقف نبيل في تعاملهم مع جنود العرب أو المدنيين، ثم يتساءل عن موقف العرب في حال تبادل المواقف، ناسياً أو متناسياً أنهم عدوّ غاصب وأن الآخرين هم أصحاب الأرض والمقدسات
كان يوعز تصرفاتهم"النبيلة" تجاه الجنود الع��ب أو المدنيين إلى الضمير ولم يذكر أبداً أنها أخلاق دينية أو أن التوراة تأمرهم بذلك
بنفس الوقت كانوا على يقين أن الأماكن المقدسة ملكهم ولهم وأنهم لن يتوقفوا حتى يستعيدوها وهذا أول مايزرعونه في نفوس أبنائهم وأن "أورشليم" هي عاصمتهم الأبدية

ازدواجية المعايير والكيل بمكيالين قاعدة واضحة في حياته ، حيث يطلق على أفراد الجيش الاسرائيلي "الجنود" وعلى الفلسطينيين"الارهابيين"
دائماً لديه رؤية مستقبلية وقبل اتخاذ أي قرار يدرسه من جوانبه كافة ويدرس نتائجه على الصعيد الحالي أو المستقبلي بما يناسب الصالح اليهودي أو الاسرائيلي
يضع نفسه دائماً مكان الطرف الآخر ليعرف كيف يتصرف وكيف يفكر وحتى لايتفاجأ بأي موقف مباغت
من الملفت بساطة حياتهم وعدم اكتراثهم للرفاهية ، أن يكون مكتب بيغن مكسور الطرف ومسنود للجدار حتى لايقع، وكراسي المحيطة به مكسورة الأيدي وبعضها مخلوع الظهر !!!!!!!!
شارون في مذكراته يوعز فضل قيام اسرائيل ونجاح معاركها إلى نفسه، فهو المخطط البارع وهو صاحب مهارات التفكير التي تجعل خططه توجههم نحو النصر وكل من يخالفه الرأي يذهب بهم إلى الهاوية

كتاب غني بالمعلومات القيمة جداً، من خلال نقله استراتيجية بلاده في حروبها ضد العرب ومسألة الإستيطان. رغم جرائمه وفظاعته، إلا أنه بالمنظور الإسرائيلي أثبت ولائه لقضيته ووطنه

[Gary Misch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, information cut off is the early 80s. As with any autobiography of a major figure, you must consider how much the facts might be colored, however slightly, in order to burnish the author's reputation. Nevertheless, the book appears to offer fascinating and useful insights into important events that occurred during the Suez crisis, and the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars. It will have too much operational detail for many, but it is well worth a look. The reader can always skip over the parts that aren't to taste. There are plenty of parts that read like an adventure novel.

[Eli Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although written over 30 years ago, the narrative of this book is as relevant today as when first published.

The 30-page epilogue is one of the best insights into the vision for peace and prosperity in Israel and the Middle East that I've ever seen. It is a future that Ariel Sharon lived and fought for. If not anything else, read those last pages. Decades have passed, yet the path to peace is brilliantly laid out by Sharon.

A book filled with vivid descriptions of every battle spanning the history of modern day Israel, and of the accounts that led to the formation of one of the largest political parties in Israel today - Ariel Sharon is one of the most influential figures in Israel history. Despite a life of controversy, his importance should never be overlooked.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good overall, linear recap of Ariel Sharon's life and activities in the IDF and Israeli politics. Otherwise I had two issues with this book: 1) The historical events were given a very shallow analysis. A very cursory look at times; and 2) Ariel always paints himself as the smartest player on the field. Rarely does he self-criticize, and mostly he enjoys concluding with an "I told them so." I did enjoy the read, though. It presented the birth and development of Israel as a nation in a very readable pace. I wanted to give this a 3.5 rating but Goodreads only allows whole numbers.

[Maximilian Burianek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously a very helpful book in order to learn about Israel's history - and easy, consistent and never boring to read. But much more than that I recommend this book as I found it a great piece of writing about national identity with perspectives that can be transferred to identity formation and conservation of likely any social entity

[James D McNaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding account of, probably, the greatest modern general in Israel's modern history. A very thoughtful insight into the issues, which don't just affect the Middle east but the whole world.

[James Vogl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read about every war Israel has been in Sharon was there at the front. Plus his masterminding of the settlements & Sabra.

[Tom Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in modern Israeli/Middle East history. The inside access to Israeli planning, tactics, fears, and in-fighting is fascinating. If you're interested in battle tactics and general staff discussions during Israel's wars you will love this book. I found it more comprehensive and more accessible for a military novice like myself than, for instance, Chaim Herzog's "Arab-Israel Wars." The treatment of the 1982 Lebanon invasion and subsequent civilian tragedy in the Palestinian Beirut suburbs is the clearest and most concise I've read. And of course all of this excellent history is imbued with the thoughts and motivations of one of Israel's greatest leaders.

That last part is also cause for caution, of course. The book must be taken with a grain of salt because we don't know which portions Sharon has colored to suit his own interests or what he has omitted. There are other books to help balance that out though; see Landau.

The story is almost always compelling and interesting, never dense. The potentially boring topics of farming and politics are contained in mercifully short passages. And even these Sharon manages to make interesting. The book is well written, probably thanks in large part to David Chanoff's co-writing efforts.

[Unnikrishnan Sreedharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected more from this book.. Wanted to read about his years as Prime minister of Israel during 2001-2006 period and about his official visit to India during that time and his impression about the then leaders of India. But book was written before that. Reasonably good. Felt like several self serving portions. In wikipedia, in the article about Sharon, it is stated that Jordanian Field Marshal Habis Al Majali claimed that Sharon and 6 other soldiers were captured by him during 1948 war of independance but later handed over back to Israel. Sharon is silent about this event. Similarly Sharon also proclaims his innocence about massacres at Sabra and Shatila eventhough several sources blamed Sharon for it.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. An exciting book that you cannot put down about one of the greatest generals that ever lived. Sharon will always be remembered as the general in the Yom Kippur War who turned the tide against the Egyptians which led to a complete and utter victory for the Israelis/IDF. The maps included in this book are beyond helpful in making sense of the wars, movements on the battlefields, and strategies used in the heat of the battles. If you follow the Middle East wars and Israel in particular, this is a must-read.

[Michael Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story of a great man. I have read about six books covering the brief history of Israel from different "founders" perspectives. Like the reading I have done around the American revolution, you need to read from all sides to get a clear picture. I think Sharon's story is a compelling read for those of us that are worried about Israel getting destroyed by both it's enemies and it's so called friends.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although he was a controversial figure, Sharon was a force in Israel for 50 years and laid his blood on the line for his country time and again. Being an autobiography it suffers from being one-sided. It would have been more powerful had he dealt with some material more honestly but I enjoyed reading it immensely.

[Dhafer jalil · Rating 3 out of 5]

فيه الكثير من المبالغة يظهر شارون نفسه وكانه عبقري من نوع خاص واراءه هي الصحيحة دائما ويحاول في مذكراته تبرير الكثير من الجرائم المرتكبة ضد الفلسطينيين ويتلاعب بالحقائق التاريخية اضافة الى الاخطاء الطباعية الكثيرة في هذه الطبعة.. مع ذلك تستشف ان من يريد بناء شي من لاشي لابد له ان يعمل جاهدا لتحقيق هدفه فهل سنصل الى ذلك يوما؟

[Tova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of the book were a little dry, but the historical elements were fascinating. It left the reader feeling enriched by the very end, having a much broader understanding of the love and the extreme risks (both good and bad) that Sharon took for his country.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

His narrative- his way...

[Ben Pashkoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first and most important lesson from this book is that history not only repeats, it is the same. NOthing has changed in 100 years, and we have learned almost nothing from our experiences.

[Doc Mcgarey]

Terrific photographs from the field in the great generals career

[Alejandro Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy interesante, parcial, como toda autobiografía

[Yehudit Reishtein · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating--learned historical details i was unaware of, interesting to see how what he thought when he wrote it in the late 1908s changed when he was Prime Minister 15 years later

[Yotamhod24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty remarkable life