It now looks likely that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's poor health will prevent him from taking part again in political life in Israel. The BBC News website considers the consequences of the loss of such an important figure.
What happens if Mr Sharon doesn't return to politics?
Constitutionally, if Israel's prime minister becomes incapacitated, his deputy takes over as acting prime minister for a period of 100 days.
After that, the process of forming a new governing coalition kicks in, organised by the country's largely ceremonial president.
If the PM dies, the cabinet chooses a replacement.
However, Israel is due to hold early elections on 28 March, before the end of the 100 day period.
It seems likely therefore that elections will be fought, although under the markedly different circumstances of Mr Sharon's incapacity.
The early polls were triggered last year by the loss of support for Mr Sharon's governing coalition, and his decision to leave his Likud party and form a new centrist party, Kadima.
What is the future of Sharon's new party?
Kadima is Sharon and Sharon is Kadima.
It is the product of his domination of Israeli politics and was created to push through unhindered his political vision - especially in relation to the conflict with the Palestinians.
Until the late-night rush to hospital, it looked very much as if Mr Sharon's tactic, a massive gamble in many people's eyes, had paid off.
Now the party - without a leader, let alone a political programme or formal structure - looks a much less safe bet.
Great uncertainty therefore faces the politician who left Israel's historic Labour and Likud movements to join the centrist Kadima.
Can they use Sharon's legacy - alive or dead - to win power for themselves, or will the party fall apart without their leviathan?
Who are the main candidates to replace Sharon?
Within Kadima, there are a number of potential leaders, including his deputy Ehud Olmert, also finance minister, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and perhaps the strongest contender, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.
All of them are former Likud hawks who backed Mr Sharon's withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip and four isolated West Bank settlements last summer.
The decision was controversial in the right-wing but popular among Israeli voters.
His arch rival, who stayed in Likud and won its leadership last month, Binyamin Netanyahu, may be the one poised to benefit from the ructions, although with Sharon in intensive care he is being careful not to be seen making political capital.