11/01/2014 BBC Weekend News

The former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died at the age of

85. He'd been in a coma since 2006, following a stroke. A soldier first,

then politician, Ariel Sharon loomed large over 50 years of turbulent

history. We'll be assessing his life and legacy.

Also on the programme: Hundreds attend a vigil for Mark Duggan, days

after an inquest jury found he'd been lawfully killed by police.

And, the rains may have eased, but swollen rivers means there's still

misery for homeowners. Good afternoon.

The former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died at the age of

85. He suffered multiple organ failure, eight years after a massive

stroke left him in a coma. Ariel Sharon was a dominant figure in the

military and political life of his country, but courted controversy

throughout his long career. Our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen

looks at his life, and his legacy. His body was moved out the centre

near Tel Aviv. For many Israelis he was a hero. Some saw him especially

in the 1980s as a dangerous maverick. For Palestinians, he was

always a villain, often called the Butcher. He caught his

autobiography, Warrior. Tributes were paid by Israel's leaders.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Ariel Sharon had a central role in Israel's

struggle for security. He was first and foremost a brave fighter and

great military leader. The state of Israel mourns today the loss of one

of its greatest leaders, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Ariel

Sharon was a veteran of the independence war of 1948. In 1953,

his men led a reprisal in the West Bank, after an Israeli woman and

children were killed by Palestinians. His men blew up most

of the major buildings. He said he thought they were empty. In fact, 67

Palestinians including women and children, died. In 2006, when he

went into a coma, the survivor of the rate said Palestinians would

always regard him as a killer and criminal.

TRANSLATION: Ariel Sharon has committed so many massacres, we

don't rejoice over him dying but as he will always be a killer and

criminal. For Israelis, he was a daring

fighter, leading an audacious attack during the 1956 Middle East war. In

the 1967 war, he led forces that captured large parts of Egypt. In

the 1973 war, his men crossed the Suez Canal and encircled and

Egyptian army. In 1982, as Minister of defence, he was the mastermind of

the invasion of Lebanon. Hundreds, perhaps several thousand Palestinian

civilians in refugee camps in Beirut were massacred by Lebanese Christian

militia men. Ariel Sharon was found to hold personal the possibility by

a commission of enquiry, and resigned. He rebuilt his political

career. He was a major force behind the drive to settle Jews in the

occupied posting in territories. As he pushed to become leader of the

Israeli right in 2000, he made a publicised heavily guarded visit to

the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, providing the spark for the second

Palestinian uprising. With Palestinian suicide bombers

attacking Israelis, Ariel Sharon became Prime Minister. Presiding

over a tough military response, and the construction of a fortified

barrier between Palestinians and Israelis. One of the what ifs of

history is what might have happened if Ariel Sharon had not been

incapacitated by a stroke eight years ago this month. Six months

earlier, he had pulled his Israeli settlers and soldiers out of Gaza, a

move for which he was condemned by many old allies on the Israeli

right. Some Israelis believe he might have been the only man trusted

enough to pull some settlers out of the West Bank. Israeli

schoolchildren wrote get well soon notes in 2006 when he had his

stroke. By then, many Israelis saw him as the grandfather they could

trust with their security. Palestinians never reconciled

themselves to the man or his legacy. Our correspondent Yolande Knell

joins me now from outside the hospital where Mr Sharon spent his

final years. We understand members of his family

were by his bedside when he died? That is right, it was a week ago

that doctors gave warnings the health of the former Prime Minister

had deteriorated. His two sons were at his bedside for much of the time

afterwards. Photographers were kept away. Journalists have been camping

out here. It came as a surprise at lunchtime when they were summoned

during the Jewish sabbath, a time when much of the country is not

working, for this announcement that Ariel Sharon had indeed died. Since

then, his body has been taken away from the hospital, arrangements are

From Tottenham, here's Tom Symonds. No justice, no peace! The Duggan

campaign has rallied under the cry, no justice, no peace. Family members

insisted that was a call for loud protests, not finance. Today's event

was angry but peaceful. 500 supporters gathered outside

Tottenham police station. The long inquest into his death had not

convinced them of its verdict that he had a gun, that he threw it away

and was shot while unarmed, lawfully. We do not accept it, we

will not accept it, we cannot accept it. We fight on. The media, asked to

stay well back from the speakers, were tolerated more than accepted.

The family and supporters continued to reject the conclusions of the

inquest jury this week. They say the jury was considering the evidence

put in front of it, but they say the inquest itself was weighed against

the interests of the family, community and Vic Tim. Mark

Duggan's aunt said the next move for the campaign was to push the

Independent Police Complaints Commission to carry out a wider,

more thorough investigation. The family are considering appealing

against the inquest verdict. What are your hopes for progress? All we

have is hope. We are in a non-just society. We had to hope and pray we

get justice. The police kept their numbers hidden. The family and

Acalls for no return to writing seemed to have carried weight. They

demonstrated their wishes again this afternoon, releasing white doves

into clear, sunny Tottenham skies. The French oil and gas giant Total

is to invest in Britain's shale gas industry. The company is expected to

announce on Monday it's acquiring stakes in a number of UK exploration

firms, which already have drilling licences here. The process to

extract shale gas, known as fracking, has attracted widespread

criticism because of fears about its environmental impact.

Coastguards in Devon, searching for a teenager who disappeared taking

photos of stormy seas, say they've pulled a body from the water. Harry

Martin, who was 18 and from Newton Ferrers near Plymouth, was last seen

walking towards a coastal path on January second. Formal

identification will take place early next week.

River levels in parts of England have continued to rise, bringing

more misery. 90 flood warnings are still in force in England and Wales.

The volume of water currently surging through Marlowe is eight

times greater than normal. It is a torrent which has proved impossible

to hold back. 350 cubic metres of water, tonnes of water, going past

every second. Usually, when we look over, there is a difference between

the upstream and downstream levels, 2.5 metres. Here, it is half a metre

because of the volume of water coming down. With so much water in

the system, it is hardly surprising farm land and properties have been

affected by the floodwaters. Here at least it does appear the river

levels peaked. Further downstream, there is still a chance they may

rise again. In parts of Thames Ditton in Surrey, leaving the house

is already impossible without waders. Rivers may be the problem

now. But the spectacular coastal storms seen in places such as

Aberystwyth, have left behind severe damage. Today, there has been a

determination to repair the battered seafront. It is a great community

spirit. People, parents, children, local councillors, everybody helping

together to restore the promenade to its usual glory. Here, as in other

flood damaged areas, the hope is that can't spell of mild, dried by

the hope is that can't spell of mild, dry weather will allow the

clean-up to continue. There's more throughout the evening

on the BBC News Channel. We are back with the late news. Now,