Sharon to be moved to Tel Aviv long-term care facility next week

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, comatose since January after suffering a massive stroke, is to be moved to another facility next week, according to a statement Thursday from the Jerusalem hospital where he is being treated.

Photo: Sharon to be moved to Tel Aviv long-term care facility next week

The statement said, "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will be moved at the beginning of next week from Hadassah Hospital to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital" outside Tel Aviv.

Experts from the long-term care facility at Tel Hashomer hospital have been consulting with Sharon's doctor and experts at the Jerusalem hospital for several weeks about moving Sharon, who is 78.

Sharon underwent extensive brain surgery after suffering massive bleeding in his brain on Jan. 4. He has had several surgeries since then but has not regained consciousness.

The last procedure, in April, was to reattach a part of his skull, removed during the emergency surgery to reduce pressure on his brain. The reattachment was described as a necessary step before transferring Sharon to a long-term care facility.

Even after a month, experts said Sharon's inability to regain consciousness meant his chances for recovery were slim. Now that nearly five months have passed, his chances are even less.

Sharon was at the height of his political powers when he was felled by the stroke. He had created a new political party, Kadima, which held a commanding lead heading into March 28 elections.

His closest political ally, Ehud Olmert, replaced Sharon as prime minister and Kadima head and led the party to victory in the election, but it received fewer seats in the party than Sharon expected to win, reports AP.

O.Ch.