The Director of Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Professor Ze’ev Rothstein, stated Friday that the condition of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains critical. Sharon is literally fighting for his life. 

“Over the last 24 hours we did not expect a slowdown in the deterioration [of Sharon’s condition],” said Professor Rothstein, noting that Sharon suffered multi-system insufficiency. “Laboratory tests and clinical tests indicate that the Prime Minister’s critical organ systems continue to fail.”

Professor Rothstein continued, “Arik [Ariel Sharon] fought like a true warrior, like he had all his life. We continue to treat everything using the same medicine treatments we typically use in these situations.”

As for the prospects of Sharon’s recovery, the Professor stated, “as time goes on it seems that the situation will not be better … We understand what typically happens in situations like that.”

He said that Sharon’s sons, Gilad and Omri, have not left Sharon’s bedside. “The doctors and the family have been very close and are making decisions together,” said Rothstein.

Sharon, now 85, served as Israel’s Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure, he initiated the Disengagement plan, during which thousands of Jews were deported from Gaza and northern Samaria – turning the once-fertile region over to Hamas-control. 

Sharon suffered a serious stroke on January 4, 2006 and has been comatose since.

In January 2013, US and Israeli specialists reported that Sharon had showed “significant brain activity” in an MRI scan, responding to pictures of his family seven years after the stroke. Despite this, Sharon’s condition basically remains unchanged.