Acting PM Ehud Olmert: We'll continue to do what Ariel Sharon would want - running affairs as they should be.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today opened the weekly cabinet meeting by stating that Israeli democracy is strong and all institutions are functioning in a stable and responsible manner. "This is as it should be and this is how it will continue."
Commenting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition, in the wake of a massive stroke on Thursday night, Olmert said, "In recent days, we have all been paying attention - first and foremost - to what is happening at Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital and have been praying and hoping to hear good news. We are very encouraged to hear the doctors' opinions that the situation is stabilizing and improving, and that there is a spark of hope. Even now, from here, we are hoping and wishing that the Prime Minister will recover, strengthen and return to presiding over the Israeli government and leading the state of Israel.
"If I could speak with him this morning and ask, 'Arik, what would you tell us? What would you want us to do?', he would say: 'I appreciate the fact that you are all concerned about my health. Thank you, but get to work. You must continue running affairs of state and doing everything to take care of security and socio-economic issues.' And this is what we will continue to do. We will pay attention, we will pray and we will believe that we will hear good news from Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital. In the meantime, we will continue to do what Arik would want - running affairs as they should be."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, January 08, 2006