The End of Sharon

W. Horvath: "Spiral of Violence I: Ariel Sharon". Oil on canvas.

It's been a lifetime of controversy -- but Ariel Sharon's prominent role in the longstanding crisis that is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict appears to be at an end. The Palestine-born leader of Israel is out of commission today -- having suffered his second massive stroke in as many weeks. In the unlikely event of his recovery, his extreme faiblesse would not afford a resumption of his post as one of history's most polarizing figures. While news agencies have refrained from discussing the future of Sharon's leadership, the reshuffling of his government has already commenced and both Israelis and Palestinians are braced for a new era in this neverending saga of division.