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BREAKING NEWS : Solana expresses hope

Updated: 05/Jan/2006 08:38

Ariel Sharon

Photo: Israeli Parliament

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European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has expressed his hope for the health of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon who is currently in what doctors have described as a “very serious condition” after suffering a serious stroke Wednesday night.

The Israeli premier arrived at the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem at around 11pm by ambulance from his Negev ranch in the south of the country.

It was initially thought that his condition was not serious, but the prime minister is reported to have lost consciousness as the vehicle approached Jerusalem. It was then announced that he had suffered cerebral haemorrhage and he has since been in surgery.

Spokeswoman for Solana Cristina Gallach expressed the EU leader’s hope for a recovery.

"Solana is following the developments very closely and we can only wish the prime minister the best,” she said.

Serious situation

It was first believed that the operation to stop the bleeding in Sharon’s brain, which began at 1am Israeli time, would be over after two or three hours. But the operation continued for around six hours and doctors said he was then taken back into the theatre.

Sharon, who is severely overweight, suffered a first, “mild” stroke on 18 December, when he was kept at the Hadassah hospital for a few days but emerged looking relatively healthy and returned to work the following week.

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On Wednesday there had been no particular signs of any health problems as the prime minister attended various meetings.

Speaking in English on Thursday morning, Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef explained the latest situation to the assembled media groups who have set themselves up outside the hospital.

Mor Yosef said that when he first arrived at the hospital sharon had suffered a haemorrhagic stroke and was transferred to the imaging centre.

“He was transferred to the operating theatre in which he underwent neurosurgical surgery,” Mor Yosef said.

“At the same time he was treated with medication to stop the bleeding. At the end of the first stage of the operation a CT scan was done to evaluate the entire situation. Then he was transferred back to the operating theatre to complete the surgery.

“The surgery is going to be continued for the next few hours. Part of it will be to give a chance for the medication to act.”

Political implications

Israel acting PM Ehud Olmert and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Credits: The Council of Europe

The grave situation has strong political implications. Sharon only a few months ago abandoned the ruling, right wing Likud party to form the new Kadima party.

He had moved to the centre right and since the controversial disengagement from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank, had lost the support of the more right wing elements of the Likud.

Deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert has been given temporary charge of the country but it is unlikely he will gain the leadership of Kadima in the long term.

Even if he survives the operation but is only incapacitated, without Sharon at the head of the party it is possible that the Kadima will lose all impetus and Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu will win the 28 March general election.

Sharon managed to bridge links with the Europeans and, after long negotiations, EU monitors have been allowed to monitor the Rafah border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.