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Sharon's Deputy takes over as acting Prime Minister

Atul Aneja

Premier's ailment likely to generate a power vacuum in Israel

DUBAI: Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has become acting Prime Minister following Ariel Sharon's illness, and has already held a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Mr. Sharon recently broke ranks with the Likud party in order to form the Kadima (forward) party, ahead of the Israeli parliamentary elections on March 28.

Heavyweight rival

The Kadima was leading in opinion polls, but Mr. Sharon's ailment was likely to generate a power vacuum, with unpredictable consequences. Mr. Sharon's main heavyweight rival is Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu — a known ultra-hardliner, while former Prime Minster and Labour party leader Shimon Peres has emerged as his chief ally during the formation of the Kadima party. In a statement, the Israeli Justice Ministry said that Mr. Sharon's health condition would not affect the dissolution of Parliament or delay elections.

Mr. Sharon's illness has generated a mixed response inside the Arab world. Officials from the Palestinian Authority voiced concern for the future of the peace process in Mr. Sharon's possible absence.

"On a purely humanitarian level we feel sorry for Mr. Sharon," said Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Sha'ath. "Politically, it will increase the uncertainty we are facing to get back to the peace process."

But in Lebanon, Islamic Jihad leader Anwar Abu Taha said, "We are not sorry about his health and let him go to hell whether he lives or dies... we in Islamic Jihad shall continue our holy war until we regain our rights."

Mr. Sharon has been particularly unpopular among Palestinians in Lebanon on account of his role in the massacre in two refugee camps by Christian Phalangist soldiers.

Earlier, representatives from the offices of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah II had contacted Mr. Sharon's office to convey their concern over the Prime Minister's condition and their wishes for his recovery.

Debate on poll

Mr. Sharon's illness has intensified the debate on Palestinian elections scheduled for January 25.

A large section within the mainstream Fatah party wants the polls postponed, much to the consternation of the militant group Hamas, whose popularity appears to be rapidly rising in recent months. Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said in Lebanon that he did not see any justification for delaying the poll on account of the political turmoil in Israel.

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