"On the night of 4.1.06, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was rushed to hospital suffering from severe bleeding in his brain.

A few minutes after Prime Minister Sharon arrived at the hospital, due to his severe condition, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Attorney General Meni Mazuz and I held a telephone conversation in which it was decided that Prime Minister Sharon's powers would be transferred to Acting Prime Minister Olmert.

This Friday, 14.4.06, will be the 100th day in which Prime Minister Sharon has been unable to discharge the duties of his office.  Pursuant to Basic Law: The Government, after 100 days the Government must appoint a minister from Prime Minister Sharon's faction to serve as Interim Prime Minister until the formation of a new Government.

The proposal before you is that Kadima Chairman Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert serve as Interim Prime Minister.

We convened the Cabinet in special session today, the last day on which the Cabinet could meet before Friday, 14.4.06.

The decision accepted today will take effect on Friday, 14.4.06, at midnight, should Prime Minister Sharon's condition remain unchanged.

This is a difficult and sad day for all of us – the aides who worked alongside Prime Minister Sharon, in his bureau, in the Cabinet Secretariat and in the entire Prime Minister's Office, as it is – of course – for the members of Prime Minister Sharon's family and for his friends.  We did not think that we would reach this moment.  We pray that Prime Minister Sharon recovers and send our best wishes to his family and friends.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert, we all wish you success in your post."