Ariel Sharon’s massive stroke yesterday was sure to throw both Israeli politics and Middle East peacemaking efforts into turmoil, perhaps raising the electoral fortunes of hard-line opponents such as Benjamin Netanyahu and damaging prospects for a deal with the Palestinians.

MPs from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s new Kadima party held their first formal meeting today, sketching out broad policy goals including peaceful co-existence between Israel and a future Palestinian state, but stopping short of adopting a detailed party platform.