Many of those reacting on the web today to the Israeli prime minister's critical illness agree – with various caveats and levels of reluctance – that his leadership offered the best chance of bringing progress to the Middle East peace process. And there is huge uncertainty and anxiety about what might happen next if, as looks very possible, his political career is over.
Hundreds of messages – some of them highly emotional – are being posted on the websites of the Jerusalem Post and Ha'aretz newspapers.
It is not difficult to find Palestinians and others rejoicing at Mr Sharon's illness, but a significant number of Palestinians are expressing support. One, Hayel, a Palestinian living in the US, writes in a comment posted at 13.30 today on this story:
Sharon has done some terrible, even terroristic things in his past, but so have Palestinians ... and he has been trying to bring the land to peace ... Sharon now knows that only through justice and the establishment of an independent Palestine, can there be peace for Jews and Muslims. I thank Allah for opening his eyes, and, if it be God's will, may Sharon recover, and live to bring peace for Israel. Ariel, I will face Mecca and make the morning prayer for you.
At the same time, however, it is clear that not all Israelis wish Mr Sharon well. On the same Jerusalem Post "talkback" thread, one Israeli named Eli, who says he used to live in one of the Gaza Strip settlements Mr Sharon dismantled, wrote at 11.29am: "The press keeps on reporting, incorrectly, that every citizen of Israel is praying for Sharon's health. This is not true. I am a citizen of Israel, and I am praying for the opposite, as are many, many other people I know."
So what does happen next? Numerous reports describe Mr Sharon's new Kadima party, which had been expected to win the March 28 elections with him as leader, as a one-man party. Its lead in recent opinion polls roughly halves if voters are asked if they would vote for it without Mr Sharon.
Possible contenders for taking over Kadima include Ehud Olmert, the deputy prime minister who is now acting prime minister, justice minister Tzipi Livni and defence minister Shaul Mofaz.
The Jerusalem Post reports that sources at Likud – which Mr Sharon quit last year - have hinted that Likud could end up staying in power. However, the new Likud leader, Binyamin Netanyahu, said the party would not issue a statement other than wishing Mr Sharon well.
A report in the Jordan Times, which carries the dateline "Occupied Jerusalem" says: "If indeed Sharon is out of the picture, it will leave a highly volatile situation both in Israel and in Palestine, where growing chaos is threatening parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month."
In the US, the Washington Post says that the loss of Mr Sharon "threatens to deprive the Bush administration of its closest working partner in the Middle East, casting doubt on President Bush's pledge to help create a Palestinian state before the end of his term". The New York Times, meanwhile, has a good analysis piece about the difficulties of treating strokes.
In the British press, the Independent says the controversial former military leader, who has had a role in all of the major Israeli wars since 1948, has "overwhelmingly dominated Israeli politics since the beginning of this century". A profile in the paper describes him as the "ruthless soldier who would promise to find 'true peace'".
The Times describes him as the "enigmatic warrior 'King' who inspires love and hate". Stephen Farrell writes: "Arik Sharon the uncrowned King of Israel. Ariel Sharon the Butcher of Sabra and Shatila. Both of them are passing into history."
The Israeli media are also speculating about the way Mr Sharon's illness was handled. Ha'aretz notes that some commentators are saying the ailing prime minister should have been taken to Be'er Sheva when he became ill at his home in the Negev desert, thereby avoiding the hour-long drive by ambulance to Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital, during which he had the stroke.
