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Israel ex-PM Ariel Sharon 'critically ill' | Israel ex-PM Ariel Sharon 'critically ill' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The condition of Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - who has been in a coma since 2006 - is now critical, "with some danger to life", his doctors have said. | The condition of Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - who has been in a coma since 2006 - is now critical, "with some danger to life", his doctors have said. |
Mr Sharon, 85, is suffering from a malfunction of several organs including the kidneys, they said. | Mr Sharon, 85, is suffering from a malfunction of several organs including the kidneys, they said. |
He became prime minister in 2001 and suffered a mild stroke in 2005. | He became prime minister in 2001 and suffered a mild stroke in 2005. |
After a second, major stroke in 2006, he went into a coma and has been in a persistent vegetative state ever since. | After a second, major stroke in 2006, he went into a coma and has been in a persistent vegetative state ever since. |
Giving the first official medical statement on the current situation, Professor Zeev Rotstein of Tel Hashomer hospital, said: "I am no prophet, but the feeling of his doctors and his sons... is that there has been a change for the worse. | Giving the first official medical statement on the current situation, Professor Zeev Rotstein of Tel Hashomer hospital, said: "I am no prophet, but the feeling of his doctors and his sons... is that there has been a change for the worse. |
"We are defining his condition as critical, and there is definitely a threat to his life. The feeling of everyone... is that this decline is very serious." | "We are defining his condition as critical, and there is definitely a threat to his life. The feeling of everyone... is that this decline is very serious." |
Mr Sharon's family is at his bedside. | Mr Sharon's family is at his bedside. |
One of his sons, Omri, told the Jerusalem Post: "We have hope, we always have hope." | One of his sons, Omri, told the Jerusalem Post: "We have hope, we always have hope." |
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the thoughts of the American people were with Mr Sharon's family. | |
"We remember his contributions, the sacrifices he made to ensure the survival and the wellbeing of Israel," he said. | |
Mr Kerry arrived in Jerusalem on Thursday as part of a four-day visit to the Middle East to push Israeli-Palestinian peace talks forward. | |
At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Kerry said achieving peace was tough but not "mission impossible". | |
Mr Netanyahu expressed "growing doubt" over the Palestinian leadership's commitment to peace, accusing it of inciting attacks on Israel. | |
'Security and peace' | 'Security and peace' |
Having fought in four Israeli wars since the state's founding in 1948, Mr Sharon is admired by many Israelis as a great military leader, but is reviled by Palestinians. | Having fought in four Israeli wars since the state's founding in 1948, Mr Sharon is admired by many Israelis as a great military leader, but is reviled by Palestinians. |
In both the 1967 and 1973 wars, Mr Sharon led divisions that played a key role in Israeli successes. | In both the 1967 and 1973 wars, Mr Sharon led divisions that played a key role in Israeli successes. |
While serving as defence minister in 1982, he masterminded Israel's invasion of Lebanon in the wake of shelling of Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organisation which was based there. | While serving as defence minister in 1982, he masterminded Israel's invasion of Lebanon in the wake of shelling of Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organisation which was based there. |
During the invasion, Lebanese Christian militiamen allied to Israel massacred hundreds of Palestinians in two Beirut refugee camps under Israeli control. | During the invasion, Lebanese Christian militiamen allied to Israel massacred hundreds of Palestinians in two Beirut refugee camps under Israeli control. |
The following year an Israeli commission of inquiry ruled that he had carried personal responsibility for allowing the massacres to take place. | The following year an Israeli commission of inquiry ruled that he had carried personal responsibility for allowing the massacres to take place. |
He was nevertheless elected prime minister 18 years later, pledging to achieve "security and true peace", and served until his second stroke. | He was nevertheless elected prime minister 18 years later, pledging to achieve "security and true peace", and served until his second stroke. |
Mr Sharon was a keen promoter of the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. He also initiated the construction of the controversial West Bank barrier following a wave of deadly attacks by Palestinian militants who were able to get into Israel. | Mr Sharon was a keen promoter of the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. He also initiated the construction of the controversial West Bank barrier following a wave of deadly attacks by Palestinian militants who were able to get into Israel. |
But in 2005, despite fierce opposition in Israel, he ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip. | But in 2005, despite fierce opposition in Israel, he ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip. |
In that year, he left his Likud Party to establish the centrist Kadima Party and appeared headed for re-election when he suffered the major stroke in 2006. | In that year, he left his Likud Party to establish the centrist Kadima Party and appeared headed for re-election when he suffered the major stroke in 2006. |