“Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was rushed into surgery at Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem late Wednesday night, after intra-cranial bleeding was detected, following what doctors described as a “significant stroke.”
There was no immediate assessment of the damage he may have suffered, but doctors assessed that Sharon?s chances of recovery may not be high.
Doctors said earlier that the prime minister was receiving breathing assistance as his condition was assessed. As a result of his condition, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has taken over prime ministerial authority, Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon told reporters.
Sharon was taken to hospital after complaining of pain Wednesday night, less than three weeks after suffering a mild stroke and just hours before he was to undergo a heart procedure.
He arrived at hospital and was taken to the trauma unit on a stretcher. He was anesthetized for treatment.
Initial reports quoted Sharon’s spokesman as saying that the symptoms were not severe, and reported that he was feeling pressure or pain in his chest.
Channel 10 television reported that Sharon was taken to hospital at his request, and that he was fully conscious and talking on the phone as he was taken in an ambulance to hospital.”
Sharon is among the last of the old guard. Not unlike so many others I am quite concerned with this news and wonder what else will be learned about his condition in the coming hours.
Hi Q,
His political career is certainly over. He is one of the few figures who grew up with the state and if not the last, one of the very few that can command a certain level of respect.
Times are a changing.
I hope he recovers, but I suppose his political career has come to an end in any event. I wonder where Israeli policy will go next, without him?
Q
How very sad.