Ariel Sharon, the hawkish Prime Minister of Isreal has suffered a major stroke and will most likely not return to power.
Some of you may remember that it was Isreal and Sharon that began the modern policy of preemptively attacking potential terrorists and terror centers. This policy was first condemned by the world and then adopted by the US after the events of September 11th, 2001 thus leading to the currend wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is the same Sharon who set off riots by entering a multi faith shrine on a day sacred to Muslims while under heavy armed gaurd. He has been a guiding hand in every war and military conflict Isreal has been engaged in.
To be fair, Sharon seems to have bowed to common sense in recent years and has been paving the way for an independent Palestine. Hopefully this will continue under whoever succeeds him.
chris damitio
Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took over temporarily.
