Ariel Sharon has dominated Israeli political life for decades, both as a general and a politician. With general elections due in March, much political turmoil may lie ahead if Mr Sharon dies or is incapacitated by the major stroke he suffered on Wednesday.

Only late last year, the prime minister appeared to have effected a dramatic realignment in Israeli politics when he quit the Likud party he helped to found to form a new centrist bloc called Kadima or Forward free of rightwing rebels.