Jerusalem – The Cabinet formally ended on Tuesday the five-year tenure of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been comatose since suffering a stroke in January. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was designated as his successor.
The appointment will go into effect at midnight Friday, 100 days after Sharon’s stroke, when the 78-year-old leader will be categorized as permanently incapacitated under Israeli law.
The Cabinet decision was made Tuesday because of the week-long Passover holiday, which begins today.
Sharon’s powers had been transferred to Olmert, who will serve as acting prime minister until he forms a new government following the victory of his centrist Kadima party in the March 28 election.
“It is a difficult and sad day for all of us,” Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon said. “We never thought this moment would come.”
Also Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz threatened to step up Israeli responses to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, a day after a Palestinian girl was killed by an Israeli artillery shell.
