Dimensions
160 x 227 x 45mm
When Gilad Sharon decided to write this book about his father, he turned to the massive archives housed in air-controlled rooms on his family's farm. There he found all of Ariel Sharon's personal and private papers: his diaries, his notebooks containing both his observations about Israeli and world leaders as well as his own notes about battle plans, diplomatic moves, etc. In addition, there is Sharon's correspondence with world leaders including Ben Gurion, Moshe Dayan, and many more. These are documents that have never been seen before. Many will be printed in their entirety in the book and will guarantee that this book will appeal to the myriad of readers who are either admirers or detractors of this controversial man. And perhaps more importantly, it is a significant historical contribution to the literature of the history of Israel. No-one else has had access to this astounding material. What will no doubt receive a great deal of attention is the fact that all of the conversations that Ariel Sharon had with world leaders, including George Bush, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Kofi Annan, Vladimir Putin, Hosni Mubarak, Abu Abbas, etc. were transcribed word for word. As Gilad Sharon tells the story of his father's life and particularly his years as Prime Minister, he makes full use of these unedited conversations, as well as all the documents mentioned above. In essence, the reader is a fly on the wall as Sharon makes momentous decisions, offering a rare look at his thought-process and his motivations.
These include:
His struggle with the constant terrorism, especially after the second Intifada; the breaking point in his dealings with Arafat and his decision to isolate him. The pressure from world leaders who called almost daily to offer solicited and unsolicited advice as to how to deal with Arafat. And how these leaders came to agree with his assessments of the PLO and Hamas.
The conversations took place during a particularly precarious time for Israel and the world: the terror attacks, 9/11, the London and Madrid bombings, when the situation in the Middle East was of prime importance. And although six years have gone by since Sharon was PM, the situation has become more tenuous, since the current leadership does not have the support throughout the world that Sharon had at the end of his service. It will beg the question: what would Sharon have done under these circumstances-would it be the same Middle East it is today.
An inside look at the dealings between countries in the Middle East: two Mossad agents are caught trying to poison a Hamas leader on Jordanian soil. King Hussein is furious and the only person he will deal with is Ariel Sharon, even though Netanyahu is the PM. The cloak and dagger details could be taken straight out of a James Bond book or movie.
