Stroke caused no damage to Sharon, doctors says

DESPITE suffering a mild stroke, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not have any major health problems and will be released from the hospital today.

Mr Sharon never lost consciousness and the stroke caused no damage to the prime minister, Dr Tamir Ben-Hur said.

Mr Sharon, 77 and extremely overweight, was admitted to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital late Sunday after complaining of weakness.

Doctors said he had suffered a mild stroke when a small blood clot briefly blocked the blood vessels feeding his brain. He had trouble speaking temporarily, but suffered no permanent damage, they said.

“The problem was very small, not neurological or cognitive problems. [It] was limited to speech,” said Dr Ben-Hur, who was Mr Sharon’s neurologist.

“He is now getting blood thinners. There are excellent chances for recovery. We want him to rest, and that is one of the reasons that he is staying until tomorrow ... Once he is released, he won’t get any rest.”

Doctors recommended that Mr Sharon go on a diet.

Mr Sharon joked with aides and discussed affairs of state yesterday, but his illness raised questions about his ability to lead the country if elected to a third term in March.

It also left his brand-new centrist Kadima Party scrambling.

Without Mr Sharon, Kadima likely would not amount to much since the prime minister’s popularity is the overriding factor behind the party’s commanding lead in polls.

With balloting three months away, concerns about his health could become a focus of the campaign and improve the prospects of the hardline Likud Party that he quit.

Likud voters began choosing a new party leader yesterday to replace Mr Sharon. Polls gave former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a slight edge over Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

Mr Netanyahu Mr quit Sharon’s government shortly before the Gaza pull-out, saying he could not be a party to the withdrawal.

Mr Sharon underwent additional tests yesterday after being rushed to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem on Sunday night, showing signs of confused speech.

Mr Sharon held his daily staff meeting in the hospital, said aide Asaf Shariv.

“He asked questions, he received an update from the military secretary and from the cabinet secretary. He’s in good spirits,” Mr Shariv told Army Radio.

Doctors said Mr Sharon is now more prone to a stroke, but that doesn’t necessarily mean another one would be more severe.

Mr Sharon was at risk for stroke because of his age and obesity.

He has never released medical records, and a right-wing lawmaker and physician, Arieh Eldad, has demanded that the prime minister do so now.