Gen. Ariel Sharon, commander of the Southern Command and a legendary figure in the Israeli Army, is retiring from the military Sunday and is expected to be given a top spot on the Liberal Party list for the general elections. He will be replaced by Gen, Shmuel Gonen (Gorodish).
Sharon announced his retirement at a party at his home in Beersheba last night saying, “I leave the Army against my will.” He said he wanted to leave while he was still “young and able” and could get into polities.
The general had reportedly met with Chief of Staff David Elazar and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan to discuss whether he would eventually become chief of staff. He was told frankly that he is not considered a candidate and therefore he would not be appointed as head of the Headquarters Department which would be the next step up toward the chief of staff post.
Sharon is leaving after more than 28 years of service starting with the Hagana. He rose rapidly through the ranks and it was under his command that the paratroopers became the elite force of the Israeli Army.
An International Student Workshop composed of 45 outstanding science majors from abroad are spending this summer gaining research experience at the Weizmann Institute of Science. The participants, chosen from hundreds of applicants, are from the U.S., England, France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
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