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Sharon's Health Casts Shadow Over Israeli, Palestinian Politics
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=107416A:3919ACA Political
observers say Likud party is so closely associated with Ariel Sharon
that his illness is likely to affect the election campaign





Israeli newspaper headline reads: Sharon 'Struggles for His Life'With
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon battling for life at a hospital,
intense speculation has begun about how his absence from politics will
affect the upcoming March election and the Mideast peace process.

Mr. Sharon, who helped create the Likud Party, left the right-wing
group in November after facing growing discontent over his decision to
withdraw Israeli forces and settlers from the Gaza Strip and parts of
the West Bank.

He formed the centrist Kadima party to compete in the March 28
election, and opinion polls indicated he would easily win an
unprecedented third term.

However, political observers say the party is so closely associated
with Mr. Sharon that his illness is likely to affect the election
campaign.

Meanwhile, senior Palestinian leaders are worried Mr. Sharon's health
might disrupt Palestinian parliamentary elections set for January 25,
as well as relations between the two sides. But some Palestinian
militants cheered the Israeli leader's illness, saying the region
would a better place without him. Some information for this report was
provided by AP.


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