Sharon’s gloomy birthday party

In previous years, close aides and friends used to gather over an evening meal to celebrate the prime minister’s birthday on February 26. Sharon’s inner circle sufficed with modest presents and a birthday cake, citing their boss’s dislike of extravagant parties.

This year, as Sharon approaches one and a half months in coma, a gloomy feeling pervades his aides and friends.

“How can we celebrate in a situation like this? On the other hand, we love Sharon so much and don’t want to forget about him,” one aide said.

Word is that senior aides and close friends will gather by the prime minister’s bed on Sunday to honor Sharon’s birthday, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.

Meanwhile, medical suggestions about how to awaken the prime minister from his coma have been pouring in from all over the world.

A few days ago, a doctor of Chinese origin turned up at the Israeli embassy in Rangoon, Myanmar, saying he can save Sharon.

The herbal medicine specialist showed embassy officials an article published in the local press soon after the prime minister’s first surgery on January 4, which included references to his successful Ayurvedic treatment of patients who suffered strokes.

Israel’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Ruth Schatz, said the embassy turned down the offer but thanked the doctor for his good intentions.

A copy of the doctor's proposal, however, was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office.

A similar offer has also been made in Jordan. A few weeks ago, a Jordanian doctor approached the Israeli Embassy in Amman with an offer to treat Sharon using an Ayurvedic treatment he developed.

The Jordanian doctor said drinking natural juices can successfully heal cases of brain hemorrhage.

The embassy thanked the doctor and politely turned down the offer.