Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery today, his seventh operation in five weeks, after an abdominal scan disclosed severe damage to his digestive tract.

Shimon Peres has decided to leave the Israeli Labour Party and join Ariel Sharon’s next government, a senior Sharon adviser said today.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, riding high on a sweeping victory by his right-wing Likud party, yesterday grappled with how to forge a lasting coalition after an election that redrew Israel’s political map.