The hospital caring for Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said early today that there was no change in his condition overnight, and doctors planned to bring him out of a medically induced coma.

Israel is delaying its pullout from Gaza and part of the West Bank, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, citing a religious mourning period that ends in mid-August – but raising doubts about Israel’s readiness and even its resolve in carrying out the evacuation.

Israel’s evacuation of 21 Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip will begin in mid-August, a month later than planned, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today, citing a religious mourning period but raising doubts about Israel’s readiness for the evacuation and even its resolve in carrying it out.