Doctors to 'wake' Sharon

2006-01-07 22:05

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will survive and will be in "relatively good shape," Israeli radio quoted one of the neurosurgeons treating him as saying on Saturday.

"The prime minister has a solid constitution. He will stay alive and will be in relatively good shape," Dr Jose Cohen was quoted as saying.

Sharon's chief spokesperson Ranaan Gissin also expressed hope that the prime minister would pull through but said that only the doctors could say whether he could ever resume his duties again.

"I do believe that he is going to pull through," said Gissin.

"He has survived several wars and he is fighting once more for his life. It's a question of faith," he said.

Cognitive impairment definite

"Only the doctors can say if he can one day return to work."

Cognitive impairment is definite after his severe stroke, Channel 2 TV quoted one of his surgeons as saying on Saturday.

"I think his chances of survival are very high. I'm quite optimistic on this score," Cohen said. "To say after such a severe trauma as this that there will be no cognitive problems is simply not to recognise reality."

Sharon's latest brain scan on Saturday showed a slightly easing of swelling, but he remains in critical condition with his life in danger, a hospital official said.

In his first briefing on the prime minister's condition in more than 24 hours, Hadassah Hospital director Dr Shlomo Mor-Yosef said Sharon's vital signs were stable. Doctors will decide on Sunday when to lift Sharon's induced coma, meant to give his brain time to heal, to examine the extent of his neurological damage, Mor-Yosef said.

"First we have to stabilise the situation and fight for the life of the prime minister," Mor-Yosef said. "Then we will be able to evaluate the different neurological findings." Asked whether Sharon's life could be saved, he replied, "We believe it's possible."

Outlook grim

When waking Sharon out of his coma, doctors will be "looking for some sort of response," Mor-Yosef said. "If there is no response, that would be bad news."

Sharon was admitted to the hospital Wednesday after suffering a debilitating stroke. He has since undergone surgery twice to stop bleeding and relieve pressure inside his skull. Although doctors treating him have not offered a prognosis, outside experts have said the outlook is grim. Aides said they don't expect him to return to the prime minister's office.

The hospital, which initially had translated the prime minister's condition as "serious," is now using the word "critical" for the Hebrew word kasheh. The Hebrew term used has not changed.

Mor-Yosef said the scan showed a "slight improvement" over previous scans but stressed that didn't necessarily mean an improvement in his condition.

Sharon underwent emergency surgery on Thursday and Friday to stop bleeding in the brain and relieve swelling inside the skull.

His expected departure from the political scene could hurt efforts to revive Mideast peacemaking, which stalled after fighting between Israel and the Palestinians resumed more than five years ago.

'I feel like he's my father '

His summer withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was a seminal development in Israel's relations with the Palestinians, and Sharon had broken with his longtime Likud Party in November to sidestep opposition there to his plans for more territorial compromises.

It's far from clear if any of Sharon's potential successors would have the charisma, credibility and can-do spirit that the prime minister has used to begin carrying out the historic task of drawing Israel's final borders.

At synagogues throughout Israel on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, worshippers recited a mi sheberach for Sharon - a prayer of well wishes. In the course of prayers for the sick, rabbis called out Ariel, son of Vera.

Standing outside a Jerusalem synagogue, David Zvuluni huddled with three other worshippers, speaking about the Israeli leader's failing health. He said he was against Sharon's recent withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, but at this moment wished him only well.

"I don't believe there's a synagogue in the country that's not praying for Sharon," he said. "There are just a few lunatics, but the rest of the people of Israel are all praying for him, even those, like us, who opposed him."

Israelis travelled to Hadassah on Saturday to wish the prime minister well.

"I feel like he's my father," said Eli Zada, 57, of Kfar Saba, a city outside Tel Aviv.

"We are waiting for a miracle," said his friend, Eli Grossman, 51, also of Kfar Saba.

Channel 2 TV reported that King Abdullah of Jordan called acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to express concern over Sharon's health.

Sharon's massive stroke followed another mild one two weeks earlier and threw the country into turmoil. His deputy, Ehud Olmert, was quickly named the acting prime minister.

Elections will proceed

Key members in Sharon's Kadima Party said they would rally around Olmert, easing concerns that the movement, which Sharon founded two months ago to run in March 28 elections, might fracture in his absence. A new poll showed Kadima taking slightly fewer seats in parliament under his leadership than it would have under Sharon but still emerging strong enough to form the next government.

Israeli officials have said the elections would proceed as scheduled, regardless of Sharon's fate.

Palestinian leaders, holding a parliamentary election of their own January 25, said they were in touch with Israeli officials about Sharon's condition. "We are closely monitoring the situation," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

- AP