Sharon to be declared permanently incapacitated

The Israeli cabinet will reportedly declare Prime Minister Ariel Sharon permanently incapacitated at its meeting next week. The Jerusalem Post reports that Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz declared Sharon temporarily incapacitated after the prime minister suffered a massive stroke on the 4th of January. The cabinet vote next Sunday, which is due to come into effect on the 14th of this month, is set to bump Ehud Olmert from acting prime minister to premier, but his authorities will remain the same.