Post date: Jan 13, 2014 3:39:12 PM
Israel buries former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at his family farm, celebrating the military achievements of a man seen as a war hero at home but as a war criminal by many in the Arab world.
SYCAMORE RANCH, ISRAEL (JANUARY 13, 2014) (LOCAL POOL) - Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was buried on Monday (January 13) at his family ranch in the Negev desert, beside his late wife Lily.
In the second of two funeral services, Sharon's sons Gilad and Omri Sharon, as well as Israel's Military Chief Benny Gantz, paid tribute to the a man hailed as a war hero at home but seen by many in the Arab world as a war criminal."Ariel, that's how I used to call you during the most of my adult life. I had the privilege to be part of the team of people who worked for you, with you and you. A great privilege to see how you treated the role of prime minister in a very serious way, with great respect and responsibility," Omri Sharonsaid during his address.
After a memorial service in the Israeli parliament, Sharon's body was driven from Jerusalem to his family farm in southern Israel, some 10 km (6 miles) from Gaza.
Sharon's younger son Gilad spoke about their father's last hours in the hospital.
"Saturday, room ten in Tal Hashomer unit we are next to you. Your grandchildren are running around the room - a ruckus, just like home. The conversation is vibrant, exactly like a scene in our living room at home, here on the farm. And only the hero of the play lies there motionless. There is music in the background - Arik Lavie and Arik Einstein [Israeli singers] - Arik and Arik are singing to Arik. I hold your hand and stroke your face, the face of my dying father. Beloved father, you have come home."
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Quartet Representative Tony Blair and German Foreign MinisterFrank-Walter Steinmeier were among the dignitaries who attended the burial ceremony as well as an earlier ceremony in front of the Israeli parliament.
Sharon died at the age of 85 on Saturday after spending the last eight years in a coma caused by a stroke.
His death has reopened debate into his legacy, with foes denouncing his ruthless conduct in military operations while friends praised him as a strategic genius who had stunned the world in 2005 by pulling Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip -- a Palestinian territory in the south.
Israel has beefed up security for Sharon's burial and warned Gaza's Islamist rulers not to allow rocket fire during the ceremony.
An Israeli security source said Israel had "passed the message" to Gazan authorities to prevent any rocket fire during the ceremony at the farm. Gaza is governed by Hamas Islamists who fought several times with Israel over the past few years.
Security sources said Israel had deployed an Iron Dome rocket interceptor near Sharon's Sycamore Farm, which has been hit by Gaza-launched rockets in the past.