But the removal of settlers must be seen in the context that overall during Sharon 's term as Israel 's prime minister from 2001 to 2006 , the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank , including East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights , increased from roughly 388,000 to 461,000 . Sarah Whitson : While eulogies praise Ariel Sharon , his legacy is actually disturbing . Whitson : Sharon 's pro-settlement , virulently anti-Palestinian policies were harmful . He was a brutal military leader who used the army to suppress Palestinians and their rights in Gaza. Whitson : His death is a grim reminder that impunity for human rights abuses still occurs .
Sarah Whitson : While eulogies praise Ariel Sharon , his legacy is actually disturbing . Whitson : Sharon 's pro-settlement , virulently anti-Palestinian policies were harmful . He was a brutal military leader who used the army to suppress Palestinians and their rights in Gaza. Whitson : His death is a grim reminder that impunity for human rights abuses still occurs .