Tony Blair has heralded Ariel Sharon as "a giant of this land" at the state memorial service for the former Israeli prime minister, who died on Saturday. He was laid to rest at a ranch he owned near Sderot, close to Gaza.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said Saturday he was "saddened" by the death of Ariel Sharon, former prime minister of Israel, and called on the country to build on his legacy of pragmatism to press ahead with the Israeli- Palestinian peace process.
Sharon will be remembered for "his political courage and determination to carry through with the painful and historic decision to withdraw Israeli settlers and troops from the Gaza Strip," the UN chief said in a statement.
"The Secretary-General calls on Israel to build on the late prime minister's legacy of pragmatism to work towards the long overdue achievement of an independent and viable Palestinian state, next to a secure Israel," the statement said.
Israelis have paid their final respects to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who has been buried at his family ranch in southern Israel.
By fair means or foul, Ariel Sharon’s life was dedicated to defending Israel.