Middle East analyst on impact of Sharon's stroke on Israel's political landscape

(6 Jan 2006) 1. Wide pan of Middle East scholar walking by Library of Congress 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mary-Jane Deeb, Middle East scholar: "He is leaving behind a party, a new party, and it may or may not survive, this is certainly one thing. He has in a way, he has weakened the Likud party without any doubt because he has drawn many of the members of the Likud party into the Kadima, so I'm sure that there is going to be change now. And with respect to the peace process, again opinions are divided on the issue. Some see him as a man who has put an end to the Intifada on the Palestinian side, others feel that he has taken steps that have upset a number of people within Israel, such of pulling Israelis out of Gaza. Palestinians haven't been particularly fond of Sharon and so he leaves behind some who will not particularly regret his retreat from politics." 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mary-Jane Deeb, Middle East scholar: "I'm not sure if it's going to be any different for the Palestinians, it depends who comes to power. And if it's Labour, then with the new leader of the Labour Party, Amir (Peretz), there is certainly the possibility of more negotiations and a much more peaceful approach to resolution of conflicts. If it is (Likud Party leader Benjamin) Netanyahu, then it may be different, it may be a more unilateral approach to resolving the process of an emerging Palestinian state." 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mary-Jane Deeb, Middle East scholar: "Both Sharon and Netanyahu are both known quantities, it is only the leader of Labour who is still an unknown quantity. And the likelihood of him coming to power is not particularly high. We are looking probably at Netanyahu really bringing the Likud back to power and so it will really be a matter of comparing Netanyahu's approach to Sharon's approach." 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mary-Jane Deeb, Middle East scholar : "Regionally I think there is more a wait-and-see approach. I don't think anyone is rushing to making statements on the future of the peace process. The situation has dragged for decades and so it is not in, you know the expectations of people are not particularly high, that suddenly there will be a resolution of the peace process." 6. Wide shot of Middle East scholar walking away STORYLINE: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remained in a medically-induced coma overnight on Thursday after a massive stroke, as Israelis and Palestinians grappled with the likelihood that he would never return to power. Vice premier Ehud Olmert immediately took the reins as acting prime minister and tried to convey a sense of stability but Sharon's dramatic downturn left Israelis stunned and threw his ambitious peace agenda into doubt. Sharon, who recently left the Likud party, had been widely expected to cruise to victory in March 28 elections as leader of the new centrist Kadima party. A US-based expert on the Middle East questioned whether Kadima would survive without Sharon's presence. Professor Mary-Jane Deeb, a specialist on Middle East affairs at the US Library of Congress, said Sharon's departure from Likud would have weakened the party because he drew many members in to Kadima. Jeeb said: "I'm sure that there is going to be change now." Israel's Attorney General Meni Mazuz has announced that the Israeli election would be held as planned on March 28. Sharon was to face off against the new head of his former Likud Party, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Labour Party leader Amir Peretz. In a positive sign for Kadima, a poll released late on Thursday showed the party retaining its edge without Sharon. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...