Ariel Sharon

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I doubt Kadima will have legs without Sharon's "dignitas" and "gravitas." Few Israelis have that kind of clout and the only one who strikes me as close, Netanyahu, does not seem to be the biggest fan of Kadima.

I wish him a complete recovery, however unlikely, or if his time is here a gentle passing.

[Samurai Waki]

Just when I actually started to kind of like the guy, he keels over. Hopefully he recovers, and if not, may he rest in peace.

[solypsist]

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson said God nailed Sharon because he was giving land to the Palestinians. Robertson said in the Bible, the prophet Joel "makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land.'"

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1475540

[Crazed Rabbit]

So is it okay to make fun of or mock those who just died, or suffered a great, crippling stroke?

As to the topic-I doun't know how agressive the politicians who'd take over are compared to Sharon. If his successor is percieved as weaker, it could spark another wave of palestinian suiciders. An aggressive one could say 'nuts' to the press and invade palestine, inflaming tensions.

Crazed Rabbit

[Zalmoxis]

Isn't it some stereotype that Jews are good businessmen? If so, politicians are like businessmen so everything will be fine. But seriously, I think Sharon may continue giving advice to his party IF he recovers.

[Tribesman]

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson said God nailed Sharon
Robertson is not the only religeous nut celebration Sharons' medical problem

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

[Ser Clegane]

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson said God nailed Sharon
Robertson is not the only religeous nut celebration Sharons' medical problem

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

If I didn't know better I would think that this

"I take full responsibility for what happened," far-right activist Baruch Ben-Yosef, one of the participants at the July pulsa denura, told The Jerusalem Post. "Our pulsa denura kicked in. Nothing could kill Sharon and he said his ancestors lived until they over 100 years old but we got him with the pulsa denura."

is from "The Onion"

[Adrian II]

So is it okay to make fun of or mock those who just died, or suffered a great, crippling stroke?

Yes, the same happened with regard to Yasser Arafat during his sickbed and death. However, I agree that it is rather tasteless.

As to the topic - I dun't know how agressive the politicians who'd take over are compared to Sharon. If his successor is percieved as weaker, it could spark another wave of Palestinian suiciders. An aggressive one could say 'nuts' to the press and invade Palestine, inflaming tensions.

Nobody knows. Olmert is a right-wing nut who in his heart of hearts would love to re-invade Gaza and rebuild the settlements, which is certainly not the way to go. Peretz is a left-wing idealist who wants to talk directly to Abbas and bypass any roadmap, which I am not sure is the best way to go. A final settlement would have to involve the wider region, and this in turn would have to involve the great powers and the UN.

[English assassin]

Well I don't know if its tasteless or not but I do find it a tricky question how I am supposed to feel when a war criminal suffers a stroke. As a human, I am sorry for him, as a politician, not so sure.

On the purely political front whoever succeeds him the break in continuity right now seems likely to be unhelpful IMHO.

[Spetulhu]

Suspicious how he manages to keel over just when he started work on making a lasting peace with the Palestinians.

[Kralizec]

Olmert is a right-wing nut who in his heart of hearts would love to re-invade Gaza and rebuild the settlements...

I'd say he has come around with his opinions, just like Sharon did and late PM Rabin.

He's back on the operating table right now...I keep hoping for the best, but it doesn't look good.