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| − | | Image = [[Image:Natan Sharansky.jpg|250px]]
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| − | | Date of birth = {{Birth date and age|1948|1|20|df=y}}
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| − | | Place of birth = [[Donetsk]], [[Soviet Union]]
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| − | | Year of Aliyah = 1986
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| − | | Date of death =
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| − | | Knesset(s) = [[Israeli legislative election, 1996|14th]], [[Israeli legislative election, 1999|15th]], [[Israeli legislative election, 2003|16th]], [[Israeli legislative election, 2006|17th (current)]]
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| − | | Party = [[Likud]]
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| − | | Former parties = [[Yisrael BaAliyah]]
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| − | | Gov't roles = [[Deputy leaders of Israel#Deputy Prime Minister|Deputy Prime Minister]]<br>[[Industry, Trade and Labour Minister of Israel|Minister of Industry and Trade]]<br>[[Interior Minister of Israel|Minister of Internal Affairs]]<br>[[Housing and Construction Minister of Israel|Minister of Housing & Construction]]<br>[[Jerusalem Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Jerusalem Affairs]]
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| − | }}
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| − | [[Nguyen Ngoc Tho]]
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| − | '''Natan Sharansky''' ({{lang-he|נתן שרנסקי}}, {{lang-ru|Натан Щаранский}}, born '''Anatoly Borisovich Shcharansky''' ({{lang-ru|Анатолий Борисович Щаранский}}) on 20 January 1948) is a notable former [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[dissident]], [[Human rights]] [[activism|activist]], former [[Refusenik|Prisoner of Zion]], [[Israel]]i politician and author.
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| − | Sharansky is chairman of the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies at the [[Shalem Center]].<ref>[http://www.shalemcenter.org.il/research/?did=17 Shalem Center Institute for International and Middle East Studies]</ref> From March 2003 until May 2005, he was a [[Minister without portfolio]], responsible for [[Jerusalem]], social and [[Jewish diaspora]] affairs. Previously he served as the Deputy Prime Minister of [[Israel]], Minister of Housing and Construction since March 2001, [[Interior Minister of Israel]] (July 1999 - resigned in July 2000), Minister of Industry and Trade (1996-1999). He resigned from the cabinet in April 2005 to protest plans to withdraw [[Israeli settlement]]s from the Gaza Strip. He was re-elected to the Knesset in March 2006 as a member of the Likud Party. On 20 November 2006 he resigned from the [[Knesset]] to form the [http://adelsoninstitute.org.il/homepage.aspx Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies].
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| − | On 18 June 2007, Sharansky became the Chairman of the Board of [[Beit Hatefutsot]], the Jewish diaspora museum.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3414395,00.html Sharansky new Beth Hatefutsoth head - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
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| − | == Biography ==
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| − | Born in [[Donetsk]], [[Soviet Union]] (now in [[Ukraine]]) to a [[Jewish]] family, he graduated with a degree in [[applied mathematics]] from [[Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology]]. As a child, he was a [[chess]] [[Child prodigy|prodigy]]—something highly valued in the U.S.S.R. He performed in [[simultaneous display|simultaneous]] and [[blindfold chess|blindfold]] displays, usually against adults. When incarcerated in [[solitary confinement]], he claims to have played chess against himself in his mind. (See ''[[Fear No Evil (book)|Fear No Evil]]''). Sharansky beat the world chess champion [[Garry Kasparov]] in a "Simul" game that was held in [[Israel]] (see [[List of people who have beaten Garry Kasparov in chess]]).
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| − | After being denied an exit visa to Israel on the grounds of [[national security]] in 1973, he became an activist in the human rights movement led by prominent [[physicist]] and dissident [[Andrei Sakharov]], and became internationally known as the spokesperson for the [[Moscow Helsinki Group|Moscow Helsinki Watch Group]].
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| − | Sharansky was one of the founders of, and spokesmen for, the Jewish and [[Refusenik (Soviet Union)|Refusenik]] movements in Moscow.
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| − | In March 1977, he was arrested, and in July 1978 convicted on charges of [[treason]] and [[spy]]ing for the [[United States]], and sentenced to 13 years of [[forced labor]].
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| − | After 16 months of incarceration in [[Lefortovo prison]], he was sent to Perm 35, a [[Siberia]]n [[Gulag|labor camp]], where he served for nine years. The fate of Sharansky and other [[political prisoners]] in the USSR, repeatedly brought to international attention by Western human rights groups and diplomats, was a cause of embarrassment and irritation for the Soviet authorities. As a result of increasing pressure of a mounting international campaign led by his wife, Avital Sharansky, in 1986, he was released to [[East Germany]] and led across the [[Glienicke Bridge]] to [[West Berlin]] where he was exchanged for a pair of Soviet spies: [[Karl Koecher]] and his wife, Hana Koecher. Famed for his resistance in the Gulag, he was told upon his release to walk straight towards his freedom; Sharansky instead walked in a [[zigzag]] in a final act of defiance. Sharansky then emigrated to Israel, adopting a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] given name, '''Natan'''.
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| − | In 1988, Sharansky founded and became the first President of the [[Zionist Forum]], an umbrella organization of Jewish activists from the former Soviet Union groups dedicated to helping new Israelis and educating the public about absorption issues. Sharansky also served as a contributing editor to ''[[The Jerusalem Report]]'' and as a Board member of [[Peace Watch]].
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| − | Sharansky was the chairman and founder (in 1995) of the political party [[Yisrael BaAliyah]] ("Israel for [[aliyah|aliya]]", or a pun, "Israel on the rise") promoting the absorption of the Soviet Jews into Israeli society. With another ex-Soviet dissident, [[Yoel Edelstein|Yuli Edelstein]], as a co-founder and a slogan stating that their political party is different: its leaders first go to prison and only then go into politics, the party won seven [[Knesset]] seats in 1996.<ref>Natan Sharansky, Ron Dermer: ''The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror'' p.xxiii</ref>
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| − | From 2003 to 2005, Sharansky was a member of the [[Cabinet of Israel|Israeli cabinet]] (the second [[Ariel Sharon]] government). He resigned on 2 May 2005 in protest of the ruling [[Likud]] party's plan to withdraw Israeli communities from the contested [[Gaza Strip]].
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| − | In 2005, Sharansky participated in "[[They Chose Freedom]]", a four-part television documentary on the history of the Soviet dissident movement.
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| − | He was number eleven on the list of ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'' magazine's 100 most influential people of 2005 in the "Scientists and thinkers" category.
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| − | Sharansky and Avital live in Jerusalem and have two married daughters, Rachel and Hannah. In the Soviet Union, his marriage application to Avital was denied by the authorities. In spite of this rejection, they were married in a Moscow synagogue in a ceremony not recognized by the government.
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| − | ==Books==
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| − | Sharansky has penned three books. The first is the [[autobiography|autobiographical]] ''Fear No Evil'', which dealt with his trial and imprisonment.
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| − | His second book, ''[[The Case For Democracy]]: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror'', co-written with [[Ron Dermer]], became a "must read" on [[Embassy Row]]. It had a major influence on [[United States]] president, [[George W. Bush]], and other government officials, who urged their subordinates to read the book:
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| − | <blockquote> "If you want a glimpse of how I think about foreign policy, read Natan Sharansky's book, The Case for Democracy... For government, particularly — for opinion makers, I would put it on your recommended reading list. It's short and it's good. This guy is a heroic figure, as you know. It's a great book."<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/10/bush.readinglist.tm/ What the president reads] By John F. Dickerson (CNN)</ref><ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/137redzw.asp Honoring Democracy. From the 24 January 2005 issue: Honor points the path of duty; the path of duty for us is the defense of liberty.] by William Kristol. 01/24/2005, Volume 010, Issue 18.</ref></blockquote>
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| − | In it, Sharansky argues that [[Freedom (political)|freedom]] is essential for security and prosperity, and every people and nation deserve to live free in a democratic society. Suggesting his "[[town square test]]", Sharansky argues that [[human rights]], safety, and stability can only be assured by releasing people from their oppressors and turning them into free societies where each would have the freedom to express his opinion. Therefore, he concludes, the [[free world]] must insist of promoting democracy for oppressed people, instead of [[appeasement|appeasing]] dictatorships and doing business with tyrant regimes,
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| − | <blockquote> I then explained why democracy was so crucial to international stability and security, why linkage had been so successful during the [[Cold War]], and why the free world had betrayed its democratic principles at [[Oslo Accords|Oslo]]. I outlined my plan to help the Palestinians build a free society and help Israelis and Palestinians forge a lasting peace.<ref>[http://www.americandaily.com/article/5980 Sharansky’s Case For Democracy] By Carol Devine-Molin (12/13/04)</ref></blockquote>
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| − | Sharansky takes what many of his critics call a hardline position towards the Palestinians, arguing that there can never be peace between Israel and the Palestinians until the latter rid their society of terrorist groups like [[Hamas]] and of anti-Semitism. His critics see an incompatibility between his ardent Zionism and his commitment to the struggle for universal human rights and democracy.
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| − | <blockquote> In a recent Ha’aretz interview, he maintained the “Jews came here 3,000 years ago and this is the cradle of Jewish civilization. Jews are the only people in history who kept their loyalty to their identity and their land throughout the 2,000 years of exile, and no doubt that they have the right to have their place among nations—not only historically but also geographically. As to the [[Palestinian]]s, who are the descendants of those Arabs who migrated in the last 200 years, they have the right, if they want, to have their own state... but not at the expense of the state of Israel.”<ref>[http://www.amconmag.com/2005_03_28/cover.html Sharansky’s Double Standard. For the advocate of universal democracy, human rights don’t begin at home] by Michael C. Desch (''[[The American Conservative]]''. 28 March 2005 Issue)</ref></blockquote>
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| − | ''[[Defending Identity]]: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy'' is a defense of the value of national and religious identity in building democracy.<ref>[http://inkwellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/identity-politik.html Sharansky Interview regarding ''Defending Identity'', 14 July 2008]</ref>
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| − | ==Legacy==
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| − | ===Awards===
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| − | In 1986, Congress granted him the [[List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Congressional Gold Medal]].<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Congressional_History/goldMedal.html Congressional Gold Medal recipients]</ref> In 2006 [[President of the United States|US President]] [[George W. Bush]] awarded him the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]].<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061207-2.html Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients] The White House. Office of the Press Secretary. 7 December 2006</ref> On 17 September 2008, Sharansky was awarded the 2008 [[Ronald Reagan Freedom Award]], the highest honor bestowed by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, by former U.S. first lady [[Nancy Reagan]].<ref name="rraward">{{cite web|accessdate=2008-09-24|date=21 September 2008|url=http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/110453.html|title=Sharansky gets Reagan award|publisher=JTA}}</ref> Those present at the ceremony included Connecticut Senator [[Joe Lieberman]], California Senator [[Dianne Feinstein]], and [[Cindy McCain]].<ref name="rraward"/>
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| − | ==Footnotes==
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| − | {{Reflist}}
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| − | ==Bibliography==
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| − | * Natan Sharansky, ''[[Fear No Evil (book)|Fear No Evil]]. The Classic Memoir of One Man's Triumph over a Police State.'' ISBN 1-891620-02-9.
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| − | * Natan Sharansky, [[Ron Dermer]], ''The Case for Democracy. The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror.'' ISBN 1-58648-261-0.
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| − | *[http://adelsoninstitute.org.il/FullArticleViewer.aspx?id=267&member=a The Real Russia Problem] September 2008
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| − | *[http://www.azure.org.il/magazine/magazine.asp?id=270 The Political Legacy of Theodor Herzl], essay in Azure magazine.
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| − | *[http://www.azure.org.il/magazine/magazine.asp?id=50 The Jewish State: The Next 50 Years], essay in Azure magazine.
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| − | *[http://adelsoninstitute.org.il/FullArticleViewer.aspx?id=288&member=a Save Gaza by Destroying the Heart of Terror], January 2009
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[Refusenik (2008 film)]]
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| − | *[[New anti-Semitism#Natan Sharansky|Natan Sharansky's views on the New anti-Semitism]]
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| − | *[[Refusenik (Soviet Union)]]
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| − | *[[Gulag]]
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | {{Wikiquote}}
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| − | *[http://inkwellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/identity-politik.html Sharansky Interview regarding ''Defending Democracy'', 14 July 2008]
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| − | *{{MKlink|id=127}}
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| − | *[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/3/Natan%20Sharansky Natan Sharansky] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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| − | *[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/sharansky.html Natan Sharansky] Jewish Virtual Library
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| − | *[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/224ncdel.asp The View from the Gulag. An interview with Natan Sharansky]
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| − | *[http://haggadahsrus.com/HanukkahProf1_Sharansky.htm Sharansky's Final Statement in the Soviet Court, 14 July 1978]
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| − | *[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1028390.html Solitary lessons], by Natan Sharansky. Autobiographical article about his time in the GULAG. [[Haaretz]], 13 October 2008.
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| − | *[http://www.zehut.net/main_id.asp?id=37 Natan Sharansky short speech on ''The Strength of a United Jewish People'']
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| − | *[http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Sharansky.htm Mr. Sharansky, ease my doubts], by [[Martin Kramer]]
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| − | *[http://www.meforum.org/article/666 Sharansky Interview in Middle East Quarterly]
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| − | *[http://www.booktv.org/ram/AfterWords/0205/arc_btv021305_4.ram Sharansky Interview on BookTV's After Words (13 February 2005)]
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| − | *[http://www.amconmag.com/2005a/2005_03_28/cover.html Sharansky's Double Standard] by Michael C. Desch, ''[[The American Conservative]]'', 28 March 2005.
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| − | *''[http://www.ncsj.org/AuxPages/022304JPost_Shar.shtml Anti-Semitism in 3D]'' (Jerusalem Post) 23 February 2004
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| − | *[http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1352.html Natan Sharansky] Right Web Profile
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| − | *[http://adelsoninstitute.org.il/MemberViewer.aspx?id=14 Natan Sharansky] Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies
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| − | {{Israeli Housing and Construction Ministers}}
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| − | {{Israeli Industry, Trade and Labour Ministers}}
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| − | {{Israeli Ministers of Interior}}
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| − | [[category:Politics and social sciences]]
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| − | [[category:Politics]]
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| − | {{credits|Natan_Sharansky|266189192}}
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