Hospital: Ariel Sharon's Health 'Critical'

The head of the hospital treating former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon says he is now in critical condition.

Zeev Rotstein of Tel Hashomer hospital told reporters Thursday that Sharon's life is in danger with declining function in several vital organs.

"Mr. Ariel Sharon, who's hospitalised in our hospital for the last seven years, shows some signs of deterioration during the following two days, with some critical misfunction or malfunction of some of his organs, including his kidneys. He is under, I would say, our treatment, but we feel that the situation is critical and some danger is expected for his life," said Rotstein.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke of Sharon on Thursday. "Our thoughts, my thoughts are with the Sharon family," Kerry said ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We remember his contributions, the sacrifices he made to ensure the survival and the wellbeing of Israel."

The 85-year-old has been in a coma since suffering a stroke in 2006.

Sharon was one of Israel's most iconic and controversial figures. In mid-2005, he directed a unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip, ending a 38-year military control of the territory. It was a shocking turnaround for a man who had been a leading player in building Jewish settlements in captured
territories.

Some information in this report was provided by Reuters.