BALTIMORE, MD – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the passing of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon:

 “My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ariel Sharon and the people of Israel at this very difficult time. For eight years, they have stood vigil as a great general fought the greatest battle of his life. His legacy shall always be an unwavering dedication to the security of the Jewish State of Israel and his willingness to move the peace process forward. May he now find the shalom he always sought for the land of our ancestors.”