Mixed Reactions Among Israelis, Palestinians, to Sharon's Death

As Israelis pay tribute to their former prime minister, Ariel Sharon, who died as age 85, Palestinians who considered him a war criminal celebrate. Mana Rabiee reports.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

World

Topics

Middle East & North Africa, Politics & Government

People

Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Ariel Sharon

Places

Israel, Jerusalem

Transcript

"The Chaim Sheba Medical Center announces, in sorrow, that former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has passed away." And with that, reaction poured in on Saturday to news that Ariel Sharon had died at age 85. He had spent eight years in a coma after suffering a stroke in 2006. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remembered the late former statesman as a great warrior. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu SAYING: "I believe he was one of the greatest military leaders we had in modern days. He took a central role in all battles for the security of Israel." Israeli President Shimon Peres. SOUNDBITE: Israeli President Shimon Peres SAYING: "He was an outstanding man and an exceptional commander who moved his people and loved them, and the people loved him." That love was expressed on the streets of Jerusalem as word of Sharon's passing spread. SOUNDBITE: JERUSALEM RESIDENT SAYING: "He spent his life defending Israel. He spent his life winning for us." SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) JERUSLALEM RESIDENT SAYING: "He was an extraordinary gentleman. We loved him very much." But there was no love lost for Sharon among these Palestinians. They handed out sweets to mark his death. In this Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, Sharon was considered a war criminal for military invasion and Jewish settlement on captured lands. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) REFUGEE CAMP RESIDENT SAYING: "Eight years God was torturing him, that butcher. We couldn't defeat him, God did." Friends and families gathered at Sharon's ranch in southern Israel following his death. Israeli officials say he'll be given a state funeral attended by dignitaries.