Israeli PM Ariel Sharon receives feeding tube
{{date|February  2, 2006}}

On Wednesday, doctors inserted a feeding tube into [[Israel|Israeli]] Prime Minister [[w:Ariel Sharon|Ariel Sharon]]'s stomach.

"Tonight Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent a [[w:gastrostomy|gastrostomy]], a process in which a tube is inserted into the stomach for feeding. The procedure was carried out under anesthetic and was successful," said Ron Krumer, a spokesperson for Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital where Sharon is continuing to be treated for a major stroke he suffered on January 4, 2006. He then added that, "the Prime Minister is still in a critical but stable condition."

Doctors say that the chances are slim that he will return to consciousness or return to a meaningful level of activity.  As a result it is expected Sharon will be unable to serve as Prime Minister anytime in the future.  Currently his position is being filled on an interim basis by Deputy Prime Minister [[w:Ehud Olmert|Ehud Olmert]].

Sharon, who had been Prime Minister of the State of Israel since 2001, suffered a massive stroke on January 4 during the run up to a new series of Israeli parliamentary elections. His centrist [[w:Kadima Party|Kadima Party]] faced fierce competition from the conservative [[w:Likud Party|Likud Party]] (which he split off from in late 2005) and the democratic socialist Labour Party. 

<!--His health failure has had serious effects on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, effects most notably felt in the electoral victories of Hamas and the increase in rhetoric from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

While criticized by some leaders (certainly in the Arab world) for his sometimes harsh methods towards terrorist activities in Israel, Sharon also became an important diplomatic figure in the Arab-Israeli conflict, initiating the removal of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He had become an active supporter of the United States' so-called "road map for peace" in Israel, a plan which opened up opportunities to create a formal Palestinian state in the Arab world.-->

==Related news==
* {{wikinews|title=Ariel Sharon's brain shows activity |date=January 14, 2006}}
* {{wikinews|title=Israeli PM, Ariel Sharon, woken from coma. moves limbs  |date=January 9, 2006}}
* {{wikinews|title=Israeli PM Sharon rushed to hospital |date=January 4, 2006}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1567315|title=Doctors Give Comatose Sharon Feeding Tube|author=Mark Lavie|pub=ABC News|date=February 1, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1873710,00.html|title=Sharon gets feeding tube|author=|pub=News24.com|date=February 1, 2006 }}

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[[category:Health]][[Category:Politics and conflicts]][[category:Israel]][[category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Likud]]
[[Category:Kadima]]
[[Category:Ariel Sharon]]
On Wednesday, doctors inserted a feeding tube into Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stomach.

"Tonight Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent a gastrostomy, a process in which a tube is inserted into the stomach for feeding. The procedure was carried out under anesthetic and was successful," said Ron Krumer, a spokesperson for Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital where Sharon is continuing to be treated for a major stroke he suffered on January 4, 2006. He then added that, "the Prime Minister is still in a critical but stable condition."

Doctors say that the chances are slim that he will return to consciousness or return to a meaningful level of activity.  As a result it is expected Sharon will be unable to serve as Prime Minister anytime in the future.  Currently his position is being filled on an interim basis by Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Sharon, who had been Prime Minister of the State of Israel since 2001, suffered a massive stroke on January 4 during the run up to a new series of Israeli parliamentary elections. His centrist Kadima Party faced fierce competition from the conservative Likud Party (which he split off from in late 2005) and the democratic socialist Labour Party. 


category:Healthcategory:Israelcategory:Middle East
Politics and conflicts Likud Kadima Ariel Sharon