All in the family

December 19, 2005 - 11:19 AM by David Brinn

Everything in Israel is personal. Even when the prime minister gets sick.

When Ariel Sharon was taken to the hospital last night suffering from a mild stroke, it felt like it was a family member who fell ill – the nation’s family member.

All the TV stations interrupted their regular programming for live broadcasts from the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, commentators discussed his excess girth, and Sharon, himself, even called the star correspondents from the news shows to let them know he was fine, and to stem any panic in the country.

The medical experts we all knew from the many times they’ve been on the air after terror attacks, were explaining MRIs and CTs, and turned all of us into neurological specialists.

And the political commentators endlessly discussed what Sharon’s illness could mean for the elections and Sharon’s Kadima party, with the conclusion being that it’s a big question mark – it could conceivably launch the entire political system into a new orbit, only a month after the last upheaval.

But for the Israelis on my bus, those lofty predictions were less important than the main thoughts on their minds – the prime minister needs to lose some weight.

“I’m surprised it didn’t happen much earlier,” one woman said to her friend. “He’s a walking stick of dynamite.”

“At least he doesn’t smoke,” an older man sitting behind her piped in.

“He’d be better off smoking, and cutting down on the desserts,” added a fit-looking soldier.

When the country’s “Grandpa” gets sick, everyone has something to say.

Share with others