As this is written, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is recovering from surgery for his second stroke in as many weeks. His condition is currently severe.

This can go either of two immediate directions: in the first scenario, he recovers. In the other scenario, his condition deteriorates, and he passes. Regardless of which comes to pass, Israeli (and thus, Middle East) politics have been thrown into serious turmoil, for even if he survives his future in Israeli politics is seriously in question.

Sharon's dissolution of the flight from his ruling Likud party just weeks ago has effectively dissolved the old order of power in Israel. To add to the predicament, his new faction has yet to articulate a platform, despite the fact that it commands a tremendous lead in recent polls.

The primary issue on everyone's mind is the fate of Israel-Palestine relations. The latter is approaching an important election, one that could see radical Islamist group Hamas gaining a major foothold in the Palestinian Authority. Israel has objected to any electoral process involving Hamas, and has banned all Palestinian candidates from campaigning in East Jerusalem. How this will pan out under a new government in Israel is anyone's guess.

The other major issues at stake, with respect to Palestine, are contentiously-named "security wall," Israeli disengagement in the Gaza Strip, and the deconstruction of settlements in certain regions.

Israeli policy on these issues has been, for the most part, driven by Sharon's agenda. (Due to the intimidating amount of information there is to discuss on the topic, I will make Sharon's platform brief: Essentially, many have argued, Sharon recognized that kepping Israel a Jewish state would be nearly impossible if all of the Palestinian territories were incorporated into Israel. The Arab population in the disputed regions is far too large to logistically allow for it. Thus, Sharon has been taking steps towards a two-state solution, though the terms of the offer is still unattractive to the Palestinians).

So what will become of the situation?

Leave your comments and predictions.