Sharon fights for life as Israel and Palestinians prepare for post-Sharon era

Israeli Prime Minister &to=http://english.pravda.ru/diplomatic/2001/09/06/14436.html' target=_blank>Ariel Sharon fought for his life Thursday and will remain sedated for at least two days after a massive stroke, doctors said, as Israelis and Palestinians grappled with the likelihood that the man who dominated politics in the region for decades would never return to power.

Sharon's deputy, Ehud Olmert, immediately took the reins as acting prime minister and tried to convey a sense of stability, but Sharon's dramatic downturn left &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/2002/07/23/32971.html' target=_blank>Israelis stunned and threw his ambitious peace agenda into doubt.

"I'm worried about the future of this country, about everything in this country," said Rafael Levy, a 42-year-old construction engineer from Tel Aviv.