JERUSALEM: Hospital says Sharon remains critical and stable.

Record ID: 278134

  • Title: JERUSALEM: Hospital says Sharon remains critical and stable.
  • Date: 8th January 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEACHER MEIRAV KALLAH SAYING: "And we are praying for our prime minister and wish him health because we need him, and he is the best prime minister we ever had in our country. We love him and we need him."
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7YIOQBM79STEB5N6PJK4LU1Y6
  • Story Text: Israel anxiously waited for doctors to determine whether to try and bring Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon out of a medically induced coma on Sunday (January 8).
    Sharon's medical condition grabbed headlines at the start of the Israeli weekday.
    'The Moment of Truth' and 'Critical Moment' read some of the headlines as doctors from various medical disciplines convened to determine on whether to bring Sharon out of the coma to assess the extent of brain damage caused by a massive cerebral haemorrhage that he suffered last Wednesday (January 4).
    Ron Kromer, a spokesman for Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, told reporters at daybreak that doctors would soon consult about Sharon's condition and further statements would be made later.
    "There has been no change in the condition of Prime Minister Sharon during the night and it remains critical and stable. Later on this morning the meeting of Hadassah's experts, the multi-disciplinary meeting of Hadassah's experts will convene, as in every morning, to discuss and decide on the continuation of the treatment of Prime Minister Sharon and we will issue further information when we have it towards noon," Kromer said.
    Israeli Knesset leader Shimon Peres joined the nation in prayer for the Israeli prime minister who remained in critical but stable condition overnight. Peres said he supported Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who assumed powers after Sharon fell ill and became leader of Sharon's centrist Kadima party.
    "When Sharon was in full strength, Ehud Olmert was nominated to be the acting prime minister if there will be a need for it. So in my eyes it is legal and right that Ehud Olmert should be the acting prime minister. I think he is a good choice and I think I shall support him with all my strength," Peres told Reuters Television in Tel-Aviv.
    Residents closely followed the news updates on Sharon's condition as it became impossible to ignore the extent of news coverage in Israel and around the world devoted to live broadcast from Hadassah hospital.
    "I think he was a great leader and we owe him a lot, but well, he is 78 (year-old) and anyhow I don't think he, in any case, he would have been able to run the country for any longer time," said Danny Stroom, a Jerusalem resident.
    "I'm very hopeful that he'll be all right. But to be honest he won't be able to be a prime minister, just as a person, and for his family and his sons and grandsons I hope that he will be okay, and also for all the country,all the people. But prime Minister he won't be, don't believe so," wished another resident, Isa'ac.
    Even in elementary schools, teachers spoke to students of the news that dominated television and newspapers.
    "I know that he is very sick bit I don't want him to die. I just don't want anybody to die 'cause it's very sad but he is in a really bad condition, so it's not good for him," said Jessica King, a student at the 'Hashalom' school in Jerusalem.
    "I'm very sorry for him and I hope he makes it because he was a very good president, and I just hope for the best," added fellow student Abigail Clark.
    The heavyweight Sharon, with his white hair, booming voice and avuncular air is seen by many in Israel as a military hero who fought in every war since the founding of the state in 1948.
    The death or incapacitation of Sharon, who raised peace hopes by pulling Israeli settlers and troops out of Gaza in September to end 38 years of military rule, would create a huge vacuum in Israeli politics and the Middle East peace process.
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